Alumna Brandi Lewis recently produced the first elite athletes in Acrobatic Gymnastics in Texas. Men’s Pair Axel Osborne and Dylan Inserra are Senior National Team members and three-time national champions. Most recently, the pair became the first Men’s Pair in United States history to make Finals in the world championship, where they placed 7th.
Lewis coaches the pair at World Olympic Gymnastics Academy in Plano, Texas. In May 2010, they placed fourth in their first international competition – 2010 Volkov Cup in Novgorod, Russia. The pair was then selected for the 2010 World Championship Team that competed in Wroclaw, Poland.
“I could never have imagined that I would be blessed to have such great athletes,” Brandi commented. “I cried when they made the World team because that was unfathomable, but for them to do so well and make Finals was incredible!”
Brandi graduated from SAGU with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary/English Education in 1998. In 2003, she earned a Masters in Education from SAGU.
Brandi was involved in gymnastics as a child. While at SAGU, she met several friends who were former gymnasts and shared her love for gymnastics. While attending an open gym at Trevino’s Gymnastics School, Brandi was introduced to the sport of Acrobatic Gymnastics. In 1999, she enrolled as a gymnast at Trevino’s and began training competitively again.
From 2000-2004, Brandi was a State, Regional, and National Champion in Acrobatic Gymnastics. In 2005, she began coaching her own team at World Olympic Gymnastics Academy in Plano, Texas. WOGA is the home gym of 2004 Olympic Champion Carly Patterson and 2008 Olympic Champion Nastia Liukin.
From her small gym in Mississippi to a coach at World Championships, Brandi continues to acknowledge God’s hand in her life, remembering that God gives the talent, and she must give the effort. According to Lewis, “I learned life lessons from great Christians leaders while at SAGU. I credit those students and teachers who touched my life with helping to make me the confident person I am today.”
Brandi currently resides in Richardson, Texas, and teaches Physical Education in Highland Park ISD. She is the Head Coach of the Highland Park High School Girls Gymnastics Team, and the Head Coach for WOGA Acrobatics in Plano, Texas. Brandi is also a National-Superior Judge for Acrobatic Gymnastics and has judged many National and International events.
