MICH FAULKNER
Owner, Women's Competitive Team Head Coach & Director
Mich is in his 23rd year of coaching both competitive, and recreational gymnastics ranging from ages 1 to Adults. Competitively, he coaches Levels 1 through Level 10/Elite.
From 2009-2021, Mich was the Gymnastics Director, and Women's Team Head Coach at Faulkner's Gymnastics in Hillsborough, NC. It was there he began his first competitive team, and continued to evolve to the elite coach he is today. Mich continues to train gymnasts through Level 10/Elite.
Mich grew up as a competitive gymnast. He was trained in gymnastics by former UNC Gymnast, and current owner of Triumph Gymnastics in Cary, North Carolina Dr. Debra Bell for over 12 years.
Mich is currently mentored by nationally recognized, North Carolina Judge, and National/Elite Coach, Melissa Ruffino. Melissa is the head coach of Legacy Elite Gymnastics in Concord, North Carolina and Co-CEO & Founder of LR Productions.
Mich holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications with a Minor in Religion from Barton College. Mich also played on a 4 year golf scholarship. Mich is a former member of the Barton College Alumni Board. He is married to his wife Toni. Together they have 2 sons.
In addition to Gymnastics, Mich owns and operates a successful celebrity booking agency, 123 Talent, Inc. Through this agency he has become associated with many celebrities including olympic, and collegiate gymnasts such as Miles Avery, Shannon Miller, Morgan White, Blaine Wilson, Trinity Thomas, Chellsie Memmel, Bridget & Mackenzie Caquatto, Maggie Nichols, Jana Bieger, Riley McCusker, Alaina Johnson, Mary Lou Retton, Maggie Nichols, McKenna Kelley, MyKayla Skinner, Carly Patterson, and Bridget Sloan to name a few. Mich also is Co-Executive Producer with his business partner Avi Kelin for the TKN Celebrity Virtual Talk Show which is presented by Progresso Soup, Amazon Prime & Universal Pictures.
Mich's certifications include:
National Gymnastics Association (NGA)
-
Current Member of the NC NGA Advisory Board
-
2x NGA National Champion Coach (2023 & 2025)
-
2024 NGA NC Team Of The Year Award Winner
-
2022 NGA Honorable Mention National Coach Of The Year Award Winner
-
Member of the National Gymnastics Association (Women's & Men's Professional Member)
-
Meet Director of the National Gymnastics Association Sanctioned Women's & Men's Sanctioned Events (NGA)
USA Gymnastics:
-
Member of the United States Gymnastics Association (Women's & Men's Professional Member)
-
Meet Director of Women's & Men's USA Gymnastics Sanctioned Events (USA Gymnastics)
-
Women's Artistic Gymnastics: Junior Olympic Team Coach (USA Gymnastics)
-
Safety & Risk Management Certified (USA Gymnastics)
-
USA Gymnastics University: Instructor Certified (USA Gymnastics)
-
School of Recreational Gymnastics: Advanced Teacher (USA Gymnastics)
-
School of Business: Executive (USA Gymnastics)
-
First Aid Basics (USA Gymnastics)
-
Development Coaches Course: Sport Science (USA Gymnastics)
-
Stewards of Children (USA Gymnastics)
-
Recognizing and Responding to Child Abuse (USA Gymnastics)
-
Fundamentals of Gymnastics Instruction (USA Gymnastics)
-
Gymnastics Fitness (USA Gymnastics)
American Heart Association Certifications
-
AED Certified
-
CPR Certified
American Sports & Fitness Certifications
-
Personal Trainer
-
Nutritionist
-
Kettle Bell
TRX Certifications
-
TRX
MEGAN COUNCILMAN
General Manager, Recreation and Competitive Gymnastics Team Coach
Megan grew up in Elon, NC and graduated from Western Alamance High School. Megan was on the cheer team for Western Middle School followed by cheerleading for Western Alamance High School, as well as being a competitive cheerleader for 11 years as well as a former acrobatic tumbler. Megan currently attends University of North Carolina Greensboro majoring in Speech and Audio Pathology. Megan currently is inthe UNC-Greensboro CSD Ungraduate Program in Speech Pathology & Audiology. In her free time Megan enjoys hanging out with friends, shopping, and trying new things. Megan is fluent in Sign Language and works closely with students who have hearing loss. Megan is certified by the National Gymnastics Association (NGA)
Megan grew up in Graham, North Carolina and graduated from River Mill Academy in Graham, North Carolina. Megan did recreation and competitive gymnastics for 7 years. Megan attended James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia for her first two years of college before returning to Alamance County, North Carolina. Megan currently attends University of North Carolina Greensboro where she is majoring in Kinesiology and minoring in Pre-Physical Therapy and Pre-Athletic Training. In Megan's free time she likes hanging out with friends and family along with playing with her kitten, Wally. Megan is certified by the National Gymnastics Association (NGA)
Recreation & Competitive Gymnastics Team Coach
Tiffany started her career in gymnastics when she was 6 years old. By the age of 12, she competed level 7, training level 8 skills, before moving on to play competitive soccer. However, she continued to stay connected to gymnastics through coaching. Tiffany coached in her hometown at Acrosport Gymnastics for 4 years in Durham, North Carolina Later on, she also coached gymnastics along side Coach Mich at Faulkner’s gymnastics in Hillsborough for 6 years before moving on to focus time on completing her doctoral degree.
Tiffany is currently a Physical Therapist working in home health. TIffany received her doctoral degree in Physical Therapy from Elon University in 2015. She started her career working in an outpatient clinic in Burlington (treating patients of many ages and a wide range of orthopedic injuries). She received her undergraduate degree from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2010 with a degree in Exercise and Sport Science. While at UNC, Tiffany was a member of the Co-Ed cheerleading team. Prior to UNC, Tiffany spent two years at UNC-Charlotte (pre-kinesiology) and was a member of the competitive small co-ed cheerleading team. She received an All-American award and the team placed third at NCA nationals in 2007. Tiffany is certified by the National Gymnastics Association (NGA).
Tiffany resides in Burlington with her husband and two children.
Dylan is from Graham, North Carolina located in Alamance County. Dylan is a former varsity cheerleader at Southern Alamance High School. Dylan was a 5x State Cheerleading Champion. Dylan competed for a little over 8 years as a competitive gymnast as a Diamond & Sapphire gymnast. Dylan was coached for some of her time as a competitive gymnast by Coach Mich of faulkner's Elite Gymnastics. Dylan is a former National Honors Society Member, National Society of High School Scholars Member and receiving a medal for Summa Cum Laude with a 4.5 GPA. Dylan currently attends the University of Chapel Hill (UNC) where she is majoring in Dental Hygiene. Dylan is certified by the National Gymnastics Association (NGA)
Recreation Gymnastics Coach
Dedra is a former NFL Cheerleader. Dedra cheered for the Carolina Panthers as a Topcat in the National Football League for two years. Dedra is from Burlington, North Carolina and is a graduate of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. where she received an undergraduate and a Masters degree in Education. Dedra also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications with a minor in Speech from Winston-Salem State University where she cheered on the varsity cheerleading squad (Cheer Phi). Currently, Dedra works as a dance educator at Parkview Village Expressive Arts and is the cheerelading coach at West Guilford High School. Dedra currently is a member of Zozwa Dance Troupe. Dedra is married and is the mother of an amazing daughter. In addition to coaching gymnastics and cheerleading, Dedra is also a dance instructor and a group fitness instructor/ trainer. Dedra is certified by the National Gymnastics Association (NGA)
Recreation, Competitive Gymnastics Team Coach & Director of Dance
MACY ESSICK
Certified Rookie Gymnastics Coach
Macy is from Graham, North Carolina, located in Alamance County where she attends Southern Alamance High School. Macy currently is a Varsity Cheerleader at Southern Alamance High School and a 2x State Cheerleading Champion. Macy is a former competitive gymnasts and Allen Star Cheerleader. Macy is a nationally certified Rookie Gymnastics Coach through the National Gymnastics Association (NGA).
KAITLYN THACKER
Certified Rookie Gymnastics Coach
Kaitlyn lives in Efland, North Carolina located in Orange County where she attends Eno River Academy. Kaitlyn is a former competitive gymnast for 8 years. Kaitlyn competed as a Diamond gymnast and was coached by Coach Mich throughout her gymnastics career. Kaitlyn is also a former competitive dancer and cheerleader.
Kaitlyn is currently learning Spanish and hopes to become bilingual in the future. Kaitlyn plans to go into the medical field after she graduates. In Kaitlyn’s free time, she enjoys going to bible study, going to school events, volunteering at the Orange County animal shelter, and spending time with family and friends. Kaitlyn is certified by the National Gymnastics Association (NGA)
