When Danielle Wills was looking for a tumbling-only program last year for her son, Jake, she said there were none to be found in the Austin area.
“He didn’t want to do the other parts of gymnastics or do cheerleading, but just tumbling,” she said. “I started asking other parents, and I saw the definite need [for a tumbling program].”
In December, her idea came to fruition when she opened Tumble Tech, a program devoted to power and competitive tumbling.
Although Danielle does not tumble, she does have four children who do. During the past 18 years, she said she has watched and learned plenty about the sport. Her oldest daughters, Megan and Madison, were both cheerleaders at Westlake High School and now coach at Tumble Tech. Her youngest two children—eighth grade twins—are involved in the sport, with Jake being a member of the Tumble Tech Competitive Team and Kaitlyn trying out for the Westlake High School cheer squad.
“My husband was a gymnast, so they definitely got his tumbling ability,” Danielle said.
Tumble Tech opened Dec. 11 along with the Westlake Athletic and Community Center, 4300 Westbank Drive, West Lake Hills. The business occupies 840 square feet of indoor space plus an outdoor field area.
“The WACC has been incredibly gracious in working with us,” Danielle said. “It’s great that other athletes that might not have been exposed to tumbling get to see our athletes, and that might make them interested in our sport.”
Morgan Richards, a Tumble Tech coach, began his own career by being a tumbling bystander. Although he grew up playing baseball, Richards said he ventured into a cheer gym when he was 16 years old. The facility housed trampolines, and Richards became interested in the sport while watching the tumblers there, he said. He went on to be an assistant coach at Texas A&M University for its competitive tumbling team.
“I really enjoy the atmosphere at Tumble Tech and the importance on safety and technique for tumbling,” Richards said.
Tumble Tech’s clients come from the Greater Austin area, including Round Rock. In late summer, Danielle said she plans to open a second location—a 27,000-square-foot gym—in Cedar Park.
Tumble Tech attracts gymnasts and cheerleaders looking to improve their tumbling ability as well as dancers and wakeboarders who use aerials in their sports, Danielle said.
Tumble Tech competition
In February, the Tumble Tech All Star Competitive Team competed in the Regional All Star Games in Rome, Georgia, taking home:
- a first-place win in the Female Advanced group category;
- a second-place win in the the Junior Male Elite category;
- a third place win in the Open Male Elite category.
Seven members of the team will be competing April 1-3 at the National All Star Games Competition in Las Vegas.
4300 Westbank Drive, West Lake Hills 512-717-5040 www.tumble-tech.com Hours: Mon., Tue. Thu. 4-8 p.m.; Wed. 4-9 p.m.; Fri. 5-7:30 p.m.; Sat. 10-11:30 a.m.; closed Sun.
