Our OTGA Journey

The Old Town Gymnastics  journey begins with Coach Tuti. 

Long before Tutsi Rolls Gymnastics or Old Town Gymnastics Academy, Tuti began her career much like everyone else by being a student.She began as a dancer / tumbler and studied with several local dance studios. While in high school, Tuti began her entrepreneurship and started her own baton twirling group called “Dawn’s Starlights” (Coach Tuti’s actual name is Dawn). They had their own recitals and participated in many local parades. During this time Coach Tuti competed in several dance competitions and pageants. While in college she was a teaching assistant for Dance with Mitzi and taught baton lessons for Nan’s School of Dance. After graduation she landed a dance teacher position with Tumblee’s Gymnastics and there it began, the fever for gymnastics! 

While at Tumblebee’s Coach Tuti was introduced to the apparatuses that gymnastics offers: bars, beams, spring floor and vault. This introduction resulted with Tuti pursuing her master’s degree in Exercise & Sports Science with an emphasis in motor development. As a graduate student she not only won the Miss Elkin Valley Pageant (with over $5,000 in scholarship money) but also began Tutsi Rolls Gymnastics as a portable program. After graduating she opened her first gym in Jonesville, North Carolina.

While coaching gymnastics and teaching at Wilkes Community College, Coach Tuti met her wonderful husband and business partner, Coach Alex. During his military employment, the Nelsons lived in Missouri. Coach Tuti had the government contract for gymnastics on post at Fort Leonard Wood.

Upon retiring from the Military, Alex and Tuti relocated to East Bend, North Carolina and Old Town Gymnastics Academy became a joint effort of time, coaching and leadership! Starting out in the Old Town Shopping Center, the gym moved to their current location into the historic 67 Motors! 

And their journey still continues…