Wink Tumbling Academy opened last week on Heritage Drive in Oxford, offering gymnastics, tumbling and cheer for all ages and skill levels.
Morgan Winkel, owner of Wink Tumbling Academy, has been working steadily toward her lifetime goal of owning her own studio.
At the age of 3, Winkel began competitive gymnastics until middle school. She then started competitive cheerleading throughout her time at Germantown High School in Memphis, Tennessee. Winkel’s tenacious spirit and hard-work ethic paid off when she joined the Ole Miss Cheerleading team, cheering on the Rebels in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, most namely, and in many other capacities during her tenure from 2008-2012.
Winkel graduated from Ole Miss in 2013 and decided to stay in Oxford post-grad. She started her coaching career with Pride Athletics, where she coached and started their all-star cheerleading program from 2013-2015 until their facility closed. Having established a solid client base in Batesville, she became overwhelmed with requests for lessons. She decided to then start her garage gymnastics, going to people’s homes and teaching from there.
In the fall of 2015, Winkel started Regents School of Oxford’s gymnastics and cheer program. Between Regents and teaching at Chance to Dance studio in Batesville once a week, Winkel has had her hands full running her business basically out of her car and having to set up at each location where she taught.
“My passion is for children to have self confidence and see themselves progressing. Not every student is an Olympic gymnast, but my main goal is for the kids to be their best selves,” Winkel said. “It is important for me to serve as a role model for my students, leading by example and teaching them there is no need to compete with one another, but compete with yourself.”
As of spring 2017, Winkel knew it was time to have a homebase for her clients, and she began the process of opening her own studio. She is most excited to have a homebase and not be traveling from place to place on a weekly basis. Winkel has been working out of her client’s garages, sometimes in the cold weather, wearing five layers of clothing to get through her evening lessons.
“I think this will be much better for my students. They will gain a sense of respect for gymnastics where they will have a real facility and a place to practice,” Winkel said. “I feel all of my hard work has made this even more meaningful and making me appreciate and be thankful for this opportunity.”
Wink Tumbling Academy opened April 1. The studio has everything needed for lessons in terms of proper equipment and space for group and private lessons.
“If it weren’t for the Oxford families that have remained loyal to me wherever we do lessons, even if it’s 20 degrees in a garage, they have stayed with me and supported me. There’s no way I would be where I am now,” Winkel said.
Winkel credits the loyalty of her Oxford clients that have led her to this success, noting that word of mouth has been the sole vehicle to developing her massive client base. Winkel also credits her family and the Meagher family of Oxford for supporting her. The Meagher family allowed Winkel to use their garage for gymnastic lessons and has been spreading her name for the past two years. She started by giving lessons to Mary Meagher and her friend in their garage to hosting four classes a day with multiple students.
Wink Tumbling Academy offers guaranteed results, small and intimate classes and constant hands on teaching. Wink Academy is different than most gyms in that Winkel takes pride in teaching every skill level from 3 years old to seniors in high school. Winkel is insistent that despite her growing amount of clients, she is proud to offer classes and keep all lessons taught by herself. She intends to keep her mission: small, hands on classes allowing for personal engagement with each of her students.
“When I meet a child at a certain skill level, I get to know them personally as I believe in a non-one size fits all approach,” she said. “Each child learns individually, and I don’t go by a rule book, only what each child wants to work on. As a visual learner myself, I enjoy demonstrating everything and working with my students as hands on as possible.”
To book lessons or get in touch with Morgan Winkel, visit her website here or email her at mrwinkel1@gmail.com.
Meggie Carter is the Vice President of Sales for New Media Lab. She can be reached at meggie.carter@hottytoddy.com
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