The Mission of Golden Dreams-
We are Dedicated to helping our students Reach their DREAMs through Encouraging Action & positive Motivation.
Vanessa McCoy-Nelson & Cogen Nelson
As the owners & head coaches of Golden Dreams Vanessa & Cogen have passion to make sure all students who enter through the doors find a place they can thrive and feel encouraged!
Vanessa fell in love with the sport of gymnastics from an early age and has DREAMed of owning a gymnastics academy since the age of 10. Now, many years later that DREAM is a reality! For over 20 years Vanessa has coached gymnastics at all levels ranging from preschool classes through Level 10s who went on to compete in the NCAA or Elite. She is so excited to bring this experience to North County San Diego!
Cogen grew up playing a variety of sports, but football was his favorite! Cogen went on to play D1 Football at Jacksonville University, and later felt called to serve our country in the Marine Corps. After serving, Cogen found his way into the world of Functional Fitness, and onto staff for Power Monkey Fitness Camp held at Flip Fest Gymnastics Camp in Tennessee. This is where Cogen & Vanessa met, got engaged & married! After meeting, Vanessa suggested Cogen start coaching gymnastics(because strong guys to help spot is always a bonus!) and he has been doing so since 2016 also falling in love with the sport!
Vanessa & Cogen have a heart for serving the community through gymnastics, because they know it goes beyond the physical-developing essential life skills students can carry with them in all areas of life. They value character, self confidence and the importance of perseverance. As coaches, the Nelsons measure success by what each child takes with them when they leave the sport.
Meet the Owners
Meet the Staff
Coach Kristi was an All-American gymnast growing up in Minnesota and started coaching at age 16. She has now been coaching gymnastics for over 25 years! Coach Kristi works with gymnasts of all ages recreationally and competitively. She also works with dancers and individuals who want to learn specific acro movements like aerials and flips! Her passion is working with kids because of their creative imaginations, spunky personalities and watching them grow and develop into wonderful humans. "I am so excited to be working at Golden Dreams Gymnastics & Fitness to help my students accomplish their Golden Dreams."
Kristi Carlson
Director of Tiny Tumblers, Recreational, and Day Camps
Abbie Mosca
Coach Abbie, a North County San Diego native with a lifelong passion for movement and working with kids! As the middle of three sisters and the owner of an adorable black lab named Lola, Abbie brings a vibrant energy to every class. Her philosophy? "I love helping kids build strong foundations and confidence through sport."
Abbie's impressive athletic journey began with soccer at age three, leading to ten years of competitive play and six seasons as team captain. Her love for pushing her limits extends to CrossFit, where she enjoys the blend of cardio, strength, and gymnastics. Golden Dreams Gymnastics & Fitness is thrilled to welcome Abbie's dedication, enthusiasm, and love for a good challenge to our team!
Jessica Neese
Maddie Greig
Coach Jessica brings a whole lot of energy, creativity, and heart to the gym floor! She grew up as a competitive dancer and cheerleader, and went on to dance for Georgia Southern University before taking the stage as a performer on board Disney Cruise Line.
Over the past few years, Jessica has also taught dance acro at various dance studios, blending her love for movement, technique, and tumbling in a way that keeps kids engaged and excited to learn.
She has a Bachelor's in Recreation, a Master’s in Business Administration, and is currently working on her Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy (because helping people is kind of her thing). Jessica was inspired to start coaching gymnastics three years ago after watching her daughter, who’s been flipping and tumbling since age 4, fall in love with the sport.
Now, she’s all in on helping young athletes build strength, confidence, and a love for movement. Outside the gym, Jessica loves working out, hanging out with family and friends, and cheering on her favorite gymnast, her daughter!
Coach Maddie is a dedicated athlete with a rich background in movement. She brings 15 years of competitive gymnastics and 10 years of dance experience. Maddie is also a current NCAA Springboard Diver at Cal Lutheran. A native of Connecticut, she has translated her passion for sport into coaching the past five years. Maddie has found immense joy in mentoring young gymnasts, guiding them to find their own confidence and passion for the sport .