Bozhi's Gym Nest

instructors and staff

All of our instructors are personally trained and mentor to obtain and maintain their high quality of instruction by Bozhi, a former Bulgarian National Team member, Bulgarian & USA National Team coach with over 40 years of coaching experience, producing many world class athletes, 2009 Vault World Champion & several Olympians. Assisted by his daughter Hrabrina Spencer, a former Bulgarian National Team Member, European Championship Silver Medalist & 1988 Olympian.

Bozhidar 'Bozhi" Russev

Bozhidar Russev was born in Sliven, Bulgaria November 7, 1941. He was a member of the Bulgarian National Gymnastics Team from 1960-1966, and 1968-1970. In 1966, Russev spent two years employed under work contract with then Soviet Union (Russia) in the government headquarters of Cirqus as a sports acrobat and high bars. He has participated (as a gymnast) in numerous national and international tournaments over the years, including an unforgettable achievement in 1962 as the Bulgarian National Champion.

Hrabrina Hrabrova Spencer

Hrabrina was born on April 20th, 1972 to mother Vanya Hrabrova and father Bozhidar Hrabrov Russev in Varna, Bulgaria. She was practically raised in the gymnastics gym as her parents were decorated National Team gymnasts and active patrons in the gymnastics community in Bulgaria. She started pursuing competitive gymnastics at the age of 7 after being invited from her dad to join the team. At the age of 11 Hrabrina followed her family into the capital city of Sofia, where her dad was offered high ranking position as a coach in one of the two largest sports clubs in the country. At the age of 14 Hrabrina earned a spot into the Bulgarian National Senior Team, which was one of the top 5 ranking in the World in the 80’s, and went on to winning many National titles and representing the country Worldwide. Some of her biggest achievements are: Silver Medal on Vault in the 1988 European Championships, and 5th place Team with the Bulgarian Team at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Korea.

Lance Spencer

Professional competitive gymnastics coach instructing all levels from beginner through elite levels since 1984. West Virginia native born in Parkersburg WV, my parents founded the first private gymnastics club in WV, Glendale Gymnastics, in 1974. I have grown up in gym and the gymnastics environment since the age of 4, I began teaching classes at 15 and was coaching competitive gymnastics by 16. I moved to Huntington, WV in the mid 90’s to assist in the formation of Bozhi’s Gym Nest where I am currently employed as a competitive team coach. I have had the privilege of coaching numerous state, regional and even national champions, as well as serving on the WV state gymnastics board and have been invited to be a master clinician at the WVU summer gymnastics camp for many years.

Aisha Conway

Born in Hunan Province, China and raised in Huntington, WV, I have been coaching since 2013, after seven years of competitive gymnastics with Bozhi's. After my gymnastics career, I moved on to the cheer world. I cheered all star, high school and then received an acrobatics and tumbling scholarship to Fairmont State University. Later I transferred to Marshall University on a cheer scholarship where I completed my bachelor’s degree in Exercise Physiology. Throughout the years, I continued coaching cheer, tumbling and gymnastics. My heart will always be in gymnastics and now I put my heart into coaching young gymnasts. Gymnastics is my passion and I coach every individual in a way that helps them to their full potential. The saying goes, “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” Gymnastics is mentally and physically tough and my coaching style takes into account both aspects. Not all athletes are the same, therefore I customize my coaching style for each individual athlete.

Danika Spencer

Coach

Emee Smith

Coach

Holly Boyes

Holly grew up in Cabell County, beginning her gymnastics career with Bozhi at his original YMCA location circa 1996. She cheered Barboursville Youth League, Milton Middle School, Cabell Midland HS, and devoted most her time to competitive travel cheer with River-Cities All-Stars between 1998-2004. After high school, she began coaching cheer and tumbling and earned the USASF credentials. She has had the honor of coaching competitive All-Star cheer- Mini through Senior (Levels 1-5) around the tristate, including a season with the Special Needs program at Midwest Cheer Elite. Holly also coached Cabell Midland HS cheer program 2010-2011. Her passion in helping students realize their own potential and watching them grow through that experience. Holly has been coaching at Bozhi’s Gym Nest intermittently since 2005. Currently a recreational class teacher, she also coaches the competitive gymnastics team (USAG credentialled) and the Tumbling & Trampoline team (USTA credentialled.)

Jon Thomas

Jon was born January 23rd, 1993 in Charleston, WV. Maverick was his home gym for 13+ years where he finished as a level 9 gymnast due to a major injury. Jon made the switch to All Star cheer during which he competed at Worlds 5 times. His love for the sport has kept him coaching for 10+ years. He joined Bozhi's Gym Nest in the fall of 2020 and is the Senior Assistant Coach of our Men's Gymnastics team as well as coaching g multiple recreational classes. He puts his all into making sure that every athlete is successful while making sure they fall in love with the sport like he did as a child.

Shelby Person

Shelby was born August 28th, 1993 in Williamson, WV. His love for the sport came from his mom who was the first to teach him gymnastics. He went on to join a cheerleading gym where he continued his training for five years. When he made his move to Huntington, he joined Bozhi’s Gym Nest. He believes the coaches at Bozhi’s that taught him are the best coaches in the Tri-State area. During high school he was a junior instructor until he graduated and went on to cheer at Marshall University. Upon leaving college he enlisted as a combat medic for the United States Army where he travel the world before returning back to Bozhi’s where his passion lies. He teaches many recreational class as well as several different levels of our Girl’s Gymnastics competitive team. Shelby is the Head Coach of Bozhi’s Tumbling and Trampoline team where he has coached his athletes to great lengths. Shelby and his athletes have won several high point awards, state champion awards, and last but not least a national champion title.

Vanya Hrabrova

Office

Jeannie Burnes

Jeannie was born October 31st in Huntington, Wv. She has one daughter, Laycee, who competes on Bozhi's Tumbling and Trampoline team. She has been in administration for 11+ years as she ran her own business before joining the Bozhi's family in 2021. She takes pride in making sure everything is organized so the gym runs smoothly. She is always eager to help everyone who enters the gym.

Leslee Cassidy

Leslee Cassidy is from Barboursville. She took gymnastics from one of the first gymnastics facilities in Huntington, “Mountaineer Gymnastics” as well as cheerleading from elementary school through high school at Barboursville schools. She has been coaching gymnastics since 1983, beginning at the Gym Factory in Barboursville, then Raleigh Carey School of Gymnastics in North Carolina from 1985 to 1986. Upon returning to West Virginia she taught gymnastics at the YMCA from 1999 to 2002 with Tina Bryant, another original Huntington gymnast, then moved to Bozhi’s in 2002 when the team, which included her oldest daughter, became to big for the YMCA facility and joined the Gymnest family and has been teaching here ever since. Leslee has loved the sport of gymnastics her whole life, and once she had kids of her own, it became important to her for her girls to experience it. In her coaching, she has made it her personal goal to leave each and every gymnast with positive memories of their gymnastic experience as well as to be a good and memorable coach.

Lyndsay Wilson

Lyndsay Wilson, from Huntington, has taken gymnastics classes from Bozhi’s Gymnest since she was three, where she was on the competitive gymnastics team until level 9. After leaving competitive gymnastics, she went on to cheerlead for four years on the varsity squad at Huntington High, as well as competing with an all-star cheerleading team. Before beginning to teach at Gymnest in 2008, she coached at tumble world for a year. Coaching is a way for her to express her love for the sport of gymnastics. Replicating her own gymnastic experience for her students is thrilling for her. Watching her students learn new skills and attain new goals makes her love her job that much more.

Nikita Parsons

Nikita Parsons, from Huntington, started gymnastics at the age of two and has been under Bozhi’s instruction since 1991. She was a member of the Gymnest competitive gymnastics team and cheered at Spring Valley High School. She began coaching at the Gymnest in 2005. Coaching for her is a passion because it has always been such a big part of her life. She loves working with children and seeing them accomplish things that they never thought they could. She views Gymnest as not only a place of work and gymnastics, but also a big family.