About Wildcats
About Wildcats Gymnastics?
Wildcats Gymnastics was founded by Devon Saloga (Coach Devon), who has over 40 years of experience coaching and managing in various gymnastics facilities across the United States. Drawing from this extensive background, she created Wildcats Gymnastics to offer a unique and superior training experience. At Wildcats, we blend the best techniques and ideas from the diverse programs our staff has worked with, integrating them into a comprehensive program designed to help every gymnast excel.
At Wildcats we believe:
Children are the most precious and important beings on the planet.
Gymnastics is very valuable for every student even if he or she never competes.
Gymnastics should be fun as well as healthy and educational.
Every business should create, use, maintain and improve upon an effective quality control system.
Every group in the gym is equally important, preschool, recreation, competition teams and staff.
Every business should productively contribute to the community it impacts.
Why Wildcats Gymnastics?
Gymnastics improves strength, flexibility, agility, coordination and endurance.
Gymnastics teaches children adaptability, self advocacy, cooperation, problem solving, leadership skills, how to work as a team and how to rally and bounce back from disappointment.
Gymnastics gives children a positive introduction to organized physical activities and social interactions which improves their sense of self confidence and purpose.
Gymnastics contributes to higher grades because there is a connection in the brain between physical and intellectual learning.
Gymnastics gives children a life-long appreciation for learning and physical activity.
In today’s digital age, it’s crucial to get children off the couch and away from screens, encouraging movement and real-world social interaction. Physical activity plays an essential role in brain development. Missing key developmental stages can have lasting effects. Gymnastics challenges children at the right time, helping them build critical physical, organizational, and social skills that benefit them for life. This is why young gymnasts often excel academically and feel more confident and secure in their bodies, leading to greater safety and self-assurance in everyday life.
What makes Wildcats Gymnastics unique?
- Session-Based Classes: Unlike traditional monthly programs, Wildcats offers session-based classes for better organization and more progressive learning, rather than just simplifying billing and office work.
- Year-Round Camps: Wildcats provides non-school day, holiday vacation, and summer vacation camps to keep kids engaged and active beyond regular classes.
- Investing in Staff: Time, energy, and resources are dedicated to supporting staff, ensuring they work together toward shared goals for the benefit of the entire program.
- Progressive Lesson Plans: Wildcats follows carefully designed, structured weekly lesson plans that coaches continuously refine and improve.
- Clear Communication: Strong communication is a priority, both among staff members and between staff and patrons, to create a cohesive and positive experience for everyone.
About Wildcats
About Wildcats Gymnastics?
Wildcats Gymnastics was founded by Devon Saloga (Coach Devon), who has over 40 years of experience coaching and managing in various gymnastics facilities across the United States. Drawing from this extensive background, she created Wildcats Gymnastics to offer a unique and superior training experience. At Wildcats, we blend the best techniques and ideas from the diverse programs our staff has worked with, integrating them into a comprehensive program designed to help every gymnast excel.
Why Wildcats Gymnastics?
Gymnastics improves strength, flexibility, agility, coordination and endurance.
Gymnastics teaches children adaptability, self advocacy, cooperation, problem solving, leadership skills, how to work as a team and how to rally and bounce back from disappointment.
Gymnastics gives children a positive introduction to organized physical activities and social interactions which improves their sense of self confidence and purpose.
Gymnastics contributes to higher grades because there is a connection in the brain between physical and intellectual learning.
Gymnastics gives children a life long appreciation for learning and physical activity.
In today’s digital age, it’s crucial to get children off the couch and away from screens, encouraging movement and real-world social interaction. Physical activity plays an essential role in brain development. Missing key developmental stages can have lasting effects. Gymnastics challenges children at the right time, helping them build critical physical, organizational, and social skills that benefit them for life. This is why young gymnasts often excel academically and feel more confident and secure in their bodies, leading to greater safety and self-assurance in everyday life.
At Wildcats we believe:
Children are the most precious and important beings on the planet.
Gymnastics is very valuable for every student even if he or she never competes.
Gymnastics should be fun as well as healthy and educational.
Every business should create, use, maintain and improve upon an effective quality control system.
Every group in the gym is equally important, preschool, recreation, competition teams and staff.
Every business should productively contribute to the community it impacts.
What makes Wildcats Gymnastics unique?
- Session-Based Classes: Unlike traditional monthly programs, Wildcats offers session-based classes for better organization and more progressive learning, rather than just simplifying billing and office work.
- Year-Round Camps: Wildcats provides non-school day, holiday vacation, and summer vacation camps to keep kids engaged and active beyond regular classes.
- Investing in Staff: Time, energy, and resources are dedicated to supporting staff, ensuring they work together toward shared goals for the benefit of the entire program.
- Progressive Lesson Plans: Wildcats follows carefully designed, structured weekly lesson plans that coaches continuously refine and improve.
- Clear Communication: Strong communication is a priority, both among staff members and between staff and patrons, to create a cohesive and positive experience for everyone.
Meet Our Team
Our dedicated team of coaches is passionate about guiding and supporting each gymnast’s journey, fostering confidence, skill development, and a love for movement. We are excited to be part of your gymnastics experience!
Devon Saloga
Hi, I’m Devon.
How did I get here? Well, I had a late introduction to Gymnastics as I didn’t take my first class until age 12, however I quickly realized I had found my calling. I went on to compete and teach throughout High school and a few years later I found myself in Boulder Colorado inhabiting a management position for the city of Boulder’s gymnastics program. It was the fastest growing program in the country at the time. I worked there for 12 years and enjoyed my time with the Boulder Flyers immensely. I finally did leave Boulder, when my first son (Talon) was born. I went on to run my own program with the help of the Lafayette recreation department for a decade before I eventually moved back home to Maine.
As I grew closer to my golden years I found myself still teaching Gymnastics and wondering what I was going to do with the rest of my life. I had accumulated a wealth of knowledge over the last forty or so years and an idea began to take root in my head. At first it started as idle conversations, my sons and I talking about the different strengths and weaknesses of the numerous gyms we’ve been a part of and how we would avoid or improve on them if we had a gym. As time passed my idea grew and became a dream that was shared by my sons as well. Finally in the spring of 2024 we set out to create Wildcats Gymnastics. A Community focused Gymnastics program unlike any other.
- Wildcats would be capable of creating a fun, supportive and constructive learning environment, built on a foundation of 2-way communication.
- Our Coaches would be able to make a real career out of coaching Gymnastics without having to work another job or two. (A fact that sadly isn’t true in 99% of Gymnastics programs.)
- We’d use a progression based curriculum of my design based on my 45+ years of coaching experience giving our kids the best possible instruction.
And that’s what we did! It took longer than we would have liked and cost us all we had and then some, but after an emotional roller coaster of a year and a half, here we are, enthusiastically embarking on the next chapter of this adventure. Thank you for coming along!
Talon Saloga
Hi, I’m Talon.
I’ve been teaching gymnastics and managing gyms for over seven years, but my journey in the sport began long before that. I was born into the sport (Devon being my mom) and grew up doing gymnastics, and assisting coaches in gyms across Colorado and Maine. There’s no place I feel more at home than in the gym.
I am fascinated by the biophysics involved in gymnastics, how the body moves, balances, and generates force. I love analysing the mechanics of skills and understanding how you can use physics to your advantage.
As a coach, my goal is to inspire a lifelong love of movement in my students and to help them build a deep, lasting confidence in themselves that carries far beyond the gym.
I love gymnastics, biking, and stories in all their forms. Outside the gym, you’ll usually find me mountain biking, reading books, watching movies, or writing stories of my own.
Thane Saloga
Thane brings the enthusiasm, creativity, and optimism of youth as well as experience both coaching and with social media management to Wildcats.
Have questions?
Check out our Frequently Asked Questions page, or contact us. We’d be happy to help!
Phone
(207) 899-8015
Info@WildcatsGymnasticsME.com
Address
155 Riverside St. Portland Maine 04103
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