Besty Dammeier

Gymnastics

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Coaching Experience

  • I started coaching when I was 16 years old. I took a break when I became a teacher and mom.
  • I have been coaching at DeVeau’s since 2016.
  • I coached my own daughter in our trampoline & tumbling program from the age of 3 until the age of 7.

Gymnastics Experience

  • I started doing trampoline & tumbling at the age of 3, and I competed Nationally and Internationally until I retired at the age of 18.
  • I competed Nationally and Internationally for the USA Gymnastics Trampoline & Tumbling National Team for many years. I competed in five different countries including in Australia in the 1998 World Championships in which I brought home a bronze medal on the double-mini trampoline.
  • Why I Love Gymnastics: I absolutely love watching the physical, mental, and social growth that a child goes through as part of being a gymnast. Obviously, gymnastics is a physically tough sport. Athletes grow stronger and more flexible. However, what is overlooked most of the time is the social and mental growth in gymnasts. When doing a sport that you love multiple times throughout the week, a gymnast grows very close with their coaches and teammates. They become more like a family than just friends. They push each other to get better, pick each other back up after a fall, and support and cheer for each other as they reach new milestones in their gymnastics career. Lastly, the life-lessons that a gymnast learns throughout the mental side of the sport are irreplaceable. Through their career, gymnasts learn all about grit, hard work, self belief, good sportsmanship, compassion, and commitment…just to name a few. What gymnasts take away from this sport is so much more than just physical fitness.

Education

  • My undergraduate degree is in elementary education from Purdue University. My Masters’ Degree is in Educational Administration and Supervision from Ball State University.

Family Information

  • I have been married to my husband, Justin since 2007. We have two kids. Makenna (age 10) is a fifth grader at Westfield Intermediate School. She competes on both the artistic gymnastics team and the Trampoline & Tumbling Team at DeVeau’s. My son, Jackson (age 7) is a first grader in Westfield. He enjoys playing a variety of sports and is a big fan of the ninja classes at DeVeau’s.

Fun Facts

  • One of my most embarrassing moments was when I was about 12 years old. I was tumbling in a demonstration for hundreds of people. When I landed at the end of the tumbling floor, the mat on the wall came tumbling down and toppled me in the process. It was very embarrassing, but it ended up earning me money as it debuted on World’s Funniest Home Videos television show.