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
Caroline Iselli
With 12 years of coaching experience, Caroline brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our team. She has coached all levels of the sport, ranging from foundational recreational classes and tumbling to competitive teams up to Xcel Diamond teams and specialized private lessons.
Caroline is deeply passionate about the transformative power of gymnastics. She focuses on helping her students build lasting confidence by teaching them how to conquer their fears and believe in their own potential. For her, there is nothing more rewarding than seeing a gymnast realize exactly what they are capable of achieving.
Outside of the gym Caroline is kept busy running after her daughter Tahlia who is sure to follow in mom’s Gymnastics footsteps.
Aveesa Dameshghi
Coach Eden is a former competitive gymnast who brings enthusiasm and heart to her classes. With nine years of experience in the sport of gymnastics, Eden has developed not only strong skills, but also a deep understanding of the discipline, teamwork, and perseverance gymnastics requires. Passionate about sharing what she’s learned, Eden hopes to help the next generation of gymnasts work toward their goals while also building confidence, friendships, and a love for the sport.
Eden is also a very impressive competitive diver for Dive San Diego, performing on both platform and springboard.
Coach Aveesa’s gymnastics journey began at the age of six, sparking a passion that has grown into diverse experience in the sport. As a former competitive gymnast, she developed not only physical and mental strength, but also a deep appreciation for the values of discipline, perseverance, and teamwork.
In addition to her gymnastics background, Aveesa brings three years of experience from her high school’s Varsity cheerleading team. By competing on the CIF cheer team, she has furthered her expertise in stunting, tumbling, and high-level performance.
Aveesa is deeply committed to sharing her love for the sport with her students. She aims to lead by example, bringing a positive attitude and a spirit of determination to every class. Her dedication to excellence continues to drive her growth as both an athlete and a mentor, helping her inspire the next generation of gymnasts.
Bridgette Preciado
Julia Sohn
Jennifer Larios
Mindy Ginos
Alex Chikova
Coach Carrie brings over 36 years of competitive gymnastics coaching experience and 12 years as a certified judge to our staff at Golden Dreams. Her deep understanding of the sport is rooted in her own competitive career, where she trained up to Level 9 and competed until the age of 27.
Carrie's coaching philosophy centers on creating a fun, safe, and successful environment for every athlete. While her passion for gymnastics is the driving force, she considers the athletes' success to be the well-deserved "cherry on top."
Carrie is also an elite Masters athlete in CrossFit & Functional Fitness, having qualified for and competed in some of the world's top competitions. She is a powerful inspiration, both within and outside of Golden Dreams.
Carrie ONeil
Eden Guy
Coach Cami is thrilled to be coaching at Golden Dreams! With eight years of experience as a competitive gymnast, Cami brings a strong foundation and deep understanding of the sport.
For the past two years, she has also been a dedicated competitive cheerleader, active on both the high school sideline and stunt teams. Cami is excited to share her passion and knowledge with our gymnasts.
When she's not at the gym, Cami enjoys spending time with her dog, Daisy, and finding great shopping deals!
Cami Pohl
Coach Bridgette brings 14 years of experience in cheer, tumbling, dance, and gymnastics to our team. Having grown up in the sport, she is currently a third-year Varsity member of the Mission Hills High School CIF competition team.
Bridgette is passionate about creating a supportive environment where young athletes can build both technical skill and a growth mindset. She finds immense joy in helping her students reach their individual goals while ensuring they have fun every step of the way. Her coaching style focuses on sound technique and building the confidence that gymnasts need to succeed both in and out of the gym.
When she isn't coaching or competing, Outside of the gym, she enjoys long days at the beach, spending time with friends and family and quality time with her five year old Goldendoodle Sunny who she absolutely adores and the feeling is mutual.
Coach Alex began her gymnastics journey at the age of seven. What started as a childhood passion evolved into a diverse athletic career spanning several specialized disciplines.
Alex’s background is uniquely versatile; she began in Aerial Gymnastics—performing on silks, hammock, hoop, and trapeze—before moving into competitive Rhythmic and TeamGym Gymnastics. Competing at Levels 4–7 in Rhythmic and Level 5 in TeamGym allowed her to master the balance between explosive power and artistic fluidity. She later capped off her competitive career with three years in the Xcel program.
Alex integrates these varied experiences to help her students develop well-rounded skills. She is dedicated to fostering a positive, supportive environment where she can serve as a mentor and role model for the next generation of athletes.
Alex is also currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology & Social Justice Studies at Cal State San Marcos.
Coach Julia brings a wealth of competitive experience and a lifelong passion for movement to our coaching team. A former competitive gymnast of 10 years, including a SoCal State Championship, Julia excelled in both the JD and Xcel programs.
Julia has also trained in dance and currently in competitive diving. This unique blend of disciplines has given her a deep understanding of air awareness, strength, and focus. She is thrilled to be back on the floor, helping the next generation of athletes build confidence and fall in love with the sport.
Jen is thrilled to welcome athletes and families to the gym each day! Athletics have always been central to her life, from her childhood through high school—including competitive softball—to her adult years competing in trampoline gymnastics. Her dedication to the sport earned her a 2nd place state finish and a 9th place national ranking, an experience that deepened her appreciation for the discipline gymnastics builds at any age.
Jennifer is a professional educator, teaching High School Leadership in Lake Elsinore. Her career is dedicated to helping students build confidence, character, and real-world skills—values she also brought to her time as a Varsity Softball coach, leading two teams to CIF Championship appearances. Jens has also coached tee ball, basketball, and soccer, strengthening her belief in the positive impact sports have on young athletes.
Jen is a proud wife and mother of two, including an eight year competitive gymnast. She understands the journey of a "gym parent" firsthand. She is a firm believer that gymnastics develops the "whole child"—physically, mentally, and emotionally. Whether she is checking you in or sharing a coaching insight, Jennifer is committed to making Golden Dreams a supportive home for every family.
With a strong professional background in customer service and a heart for hospitality, Mindy welcomes our families to Golden Dreams. She may not have grown up on the balance beam, but gymnastics has become a cornerstone of her life through her children’s deep passion for the sport, including one child on our competitive team.
Drawing on her own experience in competitive sports, Mindy understands the dedication, teamwork, and commitment required for young athletes to thrive. She finds immense joy in supporting our families and cheering on our gymnasts as they reach their goals. Mindy is proud to be part of the Golden Dreams community, where she helps create a positive, motivating environment. She is dedicated to ensuring that every family feels at home in our gym and that every athlete feels celebrated for their successes—big and small!