The United States Trampoline and Tumbling Association (USTA) named Zeke Cernea as the Southern Illinois Coach of the Year. He is a co-owner and head and head tumbling coach at Gem City Gymnastics & Tumbling, LLC. in Quincy, Illinois.
Zeke has been a part of USTA for 24 years. Eight of those years as an athlete and the remaining 16 years as a coach. Zeke’s last three competitive seasons were as an advanced athlete.
At 16, Zeke took over as the head tumbling coach at Quincy Gymnastics. Two years later, he and his wife, Katie, alongside his business partner, Jacob Huff, purchased the club. This is when Quincy Gymnastics began operating under the name Gem City Gymnastics & Tumbling, LLC. Zeke has hosted four invitational competitions and four state competitions.
Under Zeke’s coaching, he’s has had multiple advanced and elite level athletes on national teams with many of those and other athletes winning both state and national titles. Zeke loves coaching and watching the athletes grow into young adults and succeed beyond the gym. He’s very proud to play a role in their development.
