ABOUT MENDOCINO STARZ GYMNASTICS
Mendocino Starz Gymnastics has been promoting healthy children and young adults in Ukiah and Mendocino County since 2006. Teaching and instructing youths of all ages in our Gymnastics and Tumbling classes has been a valuable asset to the community and families. We have classes for children from 6 months - 2.5yrs, 3-6yrs, 6-10yrs, all the way to team level. All of our classes provide a solid fundamental base for all sports through strengthening flexibility, balance and overall athleticism.
Coaching Staff
Alexa Harz - Croft
Co-Owner/Founder
I grew up in Southern California in the town of Palos Verdes Estates. I spent most of my younger years training in a gymnastics facility as my father owned two. From the age of five until fifteen, I trained competitive levels of gymnastics, finishing at level 10. I have been the California State Champion for levels 8 and 9 in the All-Around, the Uneven Bars, the Vault and the Floor Exercise. I attended Peninsula High School in beautiful Rolling Hills. I competed high school gymnastics but also participated in volleyball and track and field. With my background of gymnastics many of the field events in track came very natural. So natural that I was the CIF champion in the Long Jump, the High Jump, the 110m Hurdles and 440m hurdles all my freshman year. One year later repeated that glory as a sophomore. I added the pole vault to my junior year training and quickly made myself known in yet another event. As a senior in High school, I set the school record in the long jump, pole vault, high jump and both hurdles. My glory goes further as I also set the California state record and the Jr. Olympic record in the Pole vault. I was crowned the Jr. Olympic Pole Vault Champion for 1996 jumping a new meet record. I was also chosen to compete in Atlanta, Georgia as part of a 1996 Olympic Pole Vaulting Team Exhibition. Myself along with 11 other athletes are in the record books as part of the very first United States women’s Pole Vault team. I had no idea my high school track and field class would earn me a spot competing with the best athletes in the world. I finished my senior year in high school placing 6th in the 1996 Olympic Games. I then attended San Diego State University, where I continued to pole vault and study business and horticulture. I went on to win many more competitions and set many more records in the pole vault. In 2002, she was chosen by USA Track and Field to represent the United States at a competition in the Republic of China. There were only one male and female chosen from each country to share this honor. I spent 14 days traveling and competing. It changed my life. I left placing 2nd out of 46 other competitors from around the world. I then went on to train at UCLA with Olympic coach, Anthony Curran. I worked hard enough to again earn a spot as the alternate on the 2000 Olympic team for Sydney, Australia. I traveled the next two years and ended up at family owned property in Anderson Valley.
I opened Starz in 2006. The student number quickly outgrew the original building and in November of 2012, the move to the current building began. Starz now has competition girls representing not only Ukiah, but Mendocino County and all of Northern California. Aside from coaching, I love gardening, any and all sports, doing art and baking. My hope is that gymnastics will give others the opportunities that have been given to me and be a positive amazing experience for children and adults.
Tina Nelson, Co-Owner, Manager
Tina has been part of Starz Gymnastics from the beginning. Over the last 19 years she has managed the gym off and on while raising her family in the Ukiah Valley. Starting out as a helpful parent and soon stepping in to help Alexa stay organized and keep the gym running smooth while Alexa grew her family. She brings her organizational & management skills to the gym and love of children and sports. Her back ground in athletics as a youth were High School Basketball, Track and Softball and as an adult many years in Women's & Co-Ed Softball, Muay Thai Kickboxing and Bootcamp Fitness Workouts. She loves working with the kids and cheering them on with their newly acquired skills.