Meet The Coaching Team

All of our coaches are accredited Level 1 coaches with Calisthenics Victoria, and have Level 2 First Aid training.
All coaches, assistants and class helpers have a current Working with Children's Check.

Caitlin Brook

Juniors & Seniors Coach

Hi, I'm Caitlin and I currently coach the Junior and Senior sections at Mernda.
I joined Mernda Calisthenics in 2022 as a Senior and immediately felt at home.

In the years following, I co coached the
Seniors team and assisted with the Juniors in 2023.
This was a great year, with the Seniors going on to win the State Titles.
In 2024, I took on the role of Head Coach for the Sub Junior section and really enjoyed coaching and developing the skills of our younger dancers.
This was another successful year, with the Sub Juniors winning their CV State Titles.
In 2025 alongside coaching
the Sub Junior team, I took on the role of Head Coach of the Juniors.
This was another really successful year, with the Sub Juniors growing in numbers and adding a second team, while theJuniors went on to
win 4/4 trophies, including their CV State Titles.
For me, coaching is about more than just results. I really value the relationships I build with the dancers and their families and
making sure every one feels included and part of the team.
I want my dancers to feel comfortable, supported and proud to be at Mernda.
I think having strong relationships and a positive team environment plays a huge part in helping dancers grow, enjoy calisthenics and get the most out of their time at Mernda.

Melissa Ruggieri

Masters Co Coach

Hi, I'm Melissa.
Calisthenics has been a huge part of my life since 2002 when I first started as a Subbie.
I've been incredibly fortunate to have spent my entire career with the same wonderful club community, Mernda Calisthenics Club, formally known as Northcrest, and before that Kayden Calisthenics Club.
For more than 25 years, this club has been my second home,
shaping both my love for the sport and my passion for coaching.

In 2010, I began assisting with our Tinies classes
which sparked my interest in teaching and mentoring young performers.
This eventually led me to commence my
accreditation and further develop my coaching skills.
I officially began coaching in 2018 and since then I have had
the privlegde of coaching a range of sections
including Tinies, Subbies, Inters and Masters.
Along the way I've also assisted across all sections
of our club, supporting performers of all ages and abilities.
In 2022 I retired from performing, closing
a very special chapter in my calisthenics career.
Through the years I have received coaches awards,
and I was deeply honoured to receive Life Membership from the
club that has supported me throughout my entire calisthenics journey.
Calisthenics has given me lifelong friendships, unforgettable experiences
and a passion for others grow in confidence, teamwork and performance.
I'm proud to continue giving back to the sport that has
given me so much and to support the next generation of calisthenics performers in reaching their full potential.

Vicki Hobson

Tinies Coach

I started calisthenics when I was 6 years old at a small local club before moving to Bundoora Calisthenics Club as 2nd last year Junior.
I moved to Bellevue Calisthenics Club in 1997 and finished my senior years.
I had been assisting for many years before deciding to finally become a coach and commenced coaching my own team in 2004 at Newport Calisthenics Club,
I also assisted the Senior team for many years with many success along the way.
In 2009 I began coaching at St Marks Calisthenics Club as the tinies coach then adding the Junior assistant coach the following year.
I spent many years as the assistant coach of Juniors and then Inters at St Marks
enjoying many wonderful achievements with both teams reaching Championship level.
I made the move to Mernda in 2017 as the Junior coach and also the Inter Co-Coach.
I also enjoyed being the Head Coach of both our Inters and Seniors sections.
As of 2025, I now am the Head Coach of our beautiful Tinies section.
I have enjoyed many wonderful successes so far while at Mernda and can’t wait to see where the club heads next.

Katia Antoniadis

Masters Co-Coach

My calisthenics journey began at just 6 years old in 2001 at the Kayden Calisthenics Club.
After two years as a Tinie and a Subbie, the club then became Northcrest Calisthenics Club in 2003 before later becoming the Mernda Calisthenics Club we know today.
Calisthenics has been a huge part of my life ever since with more than 20 years as a competitor and over a decade of coaching experience.

My coaching journey began in 2012 as an assistant with the Tinies.
Since then, I have coaches and assisted across all age sections from Tinies through to Masters giving me the opportunity to work with performers of all ages, abilities and experience levels.
I began my cadetship in 2016 and became a qualified Level 1 Coach in 2017.

Over the years, I have been fortunate to coach teams to many successful results including Aggregate and Reserve Aggregate wins at competitions such as State Championships and RSSS.
I have also coached numerous graceful and physi solos achieving successful results and placings, as well as mentoring performers and coaching students through their Calisthenics Skills Programs.
For the past five years, I have been the Co-Coach of our Masters team, which has been an incredibly rewarding part of my coaching journey.
During this time, we have proudly progressed from Division 8 to Division 5 celebrating many achievements and successes along they way.
As a competitor, I have also been fortunate enough to receive multiple Coaches Awards, Most Improved Awards as well as being
awarded Miss Northcrest and the Mernda Star Award.
I have successfully completed the Calisthenics Skills Program and have continued to use my experience as both a competitor and coach to support, mentor and encourage the pupils I work with.

Calisthenics has given me so much throughout my life, lifelong friendships, incredible memories, challenges, achievements and a genuine love for coaching.
One of the most rewarding parts of coaching is watching pupils grow in confidence, develop their skills and achieve things they may not have thought possible.

After 25 years in this wonderful sport, I am incredibly proud of everything I have achieved so far, and am excited to see what the next chapter of my calisthenics journey brings.

Yvonne Mathews

Sub Juniors Coach

My love of calisthenics began when I was just three years old, and it has always held a very special place in my life.
I gre up in this sport and still have so many wonderful memories from growing up in the sport, through all divisions and age groups.
I competed in both Calithenics and Graceful Solos and developed a lifelong love for performing, teamwork and everything thast makes calisthenics so special.

After taking a break for over ten years, I found my way back to calistheics thriugh my daughter who discovered her own love for the sport with the Mernda Tinies in 2025.
Watching her passion grow inspired me to return to the stage myself with the Mernda Seniors and begin a new chapter as Head Coach of the Sub Juniors.
As a coach, I love creating a positive, encourgaing and fun environment where everyone feels supported to build their confidence, develop their skills and be proud of what they can achieve.
I love watching each team grow throughout the year and seeing all their hard work come together on stage.
Calisthenics has given me so much throughout my life, and I feel incredibly lucky to now share that same love of the sport with my daughter and the next generation of Mernda performers.

Mikayla Knight

Subbies Assistant Coach