It tumbled right into Zephyrhills’s airport district.
JAMM Gymnastics is a new training facility — next to the Municipal Airport — and it’s already establishing itself as a place to enhance tumbling and other gymnastics skills.
“We’ve been well-received by the community, especially since the demand for gymnastics has been pretty high in Zephyrhills for a while now,” said owner Steve Paul, who also coaches at the gym. “We’re focusing on recreational gymnastics, so a lot of tumbling classes, but they’re also able to work on the bars and beams and rings, too.”
Paul and his wife, Gabby Quattlebaum, are co-owners of the center. It opened its doors on June 13.
The center offers tumbling classes, camps and space to host birthday parties.
The co-owners are both active coaches for the classes.
The East Pasco Invaders, a cheerleading squad for children ages 5 to 18, also has made its home at JAMM.
Paul and Quattlebaum have credentials, plus knowledge.
They have helped develop three Olympic trial members, an NCAA All-Around Champion, 12 NCAA All Americans, three World Team members, four USA Team members and 30 college scholarship recipients.
“I’ve been around or coaching gymnastics for about 30 years,” Paul said. “My wife used to be a gymnast, and we have the tools and the skills that we know will make them better cheerleaders, which is why we are now the home of the Pasco Invaders.”
Paul adds it’s not just aspiring gymnasts and cheerleaders that are looking to be coached.
Athletes from various sports see the value of gymnastics training, he said.
“What they learn in gymnastics will help them in just about any other sport they play,” Paul said.
“We can help kids develop through some gymnastic skills and become better football, basketball, soccer, baseball players — any sport — and help them run faster, jump higher.
“That’s where we really come in and want to help,” he said.
While JAMM has hosted open houses, and summer and back-to-school camps, it has seen its fair share of new athletes join the ranks. While tumbling and cheerleading are a big draw for now, locals are enjoying the affordability and laid-back atmosphere of a gym still very apt at improving skills.
“My daughter is a cheerleader and her shortcomings were in tumbling scenarios,” Zephyrhills resident Teddy Taylor said. “This place allows her to expand her talents, work on the things she needs and become a better cheerleader.
“(It’s a) little bit more (of) nextdoor neighbor,” he added. “They don’t seem to be out to just make the big dollars — it’s about the girls, the athletes here, and whatever they can do to make them better as athletes and people.
“It’s all about fun, and that they’re having fun.”
Teddy’s daughter, 12-year-old Tayla-Anne, is definitely having fun.
“I wanted to take gymnastics so I could learn to do different things and so I could advance with my tumbling for cheerleading,” the Pasco Invaders cheerleader said. “I like this place a lot. It’s pretty fun, and I’ve learned a lot, especially during a gymnastics camp I took. I learned how to do stuff on the bar and the beams, so it’s been great to have a place I come to a lot, to learn even more tumbling.”
Next on the agenda for JAMM is to partner with after-school programs. By doing that, children can take gymnastics as an extracurricular activity in the afternoons.
It will be more than mere tumbling, Paul said.
“We do want to provide recreational after-school programs,” he said. “Because we’ll teach them tumbling and gymnastics, but also help them learn to set goals, and have a positive, can-do attitude. All while learning gymnastics.”
JAMM Gymnastics
Where: 5048 Airport Road, Zephyrhills
Details: A gymnastics training facility that offers lessons, classes, camps and birthday parties.
Info: Visit JammGymnastics.com, or call 813-602-8960.
Published August 17, 2022
