Massachusetts Elite Gymnastics Academy
World-class gymnastics academy is the MetroWest’s best-kept secret
Tucked behind the old Ann and Hope building on Route 109, Millis’s Massachusetts Elite Gymnastics Academy (MEGA) attracts high-level gymnasts from all around the region, and then sends them to win awards all over the world.
Those same coaches also teach area children basic recreational gymnastics, tumbling, and trampoline skills. Pre-Covid, they held birthday parties and camps for school-age kids.
“Gymnastics can start young, and it should be fun,” says Levon Karakhanyan, owner of MEGA. “We’ve set up a safe, spacious academy for everyone to learn the art of gymnastics and see how far it can take them.”
Levon Karakhanyan knows just how far that is, being a world class gymnast himself. He held the title of Armenian National Champion four times and competing in the European and World Championships. He’s worked as a coach and as a judge on an international level since 1995, even coaching Armenian gymnast Houry Gebeshian at the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
Located in Ann and Hope’s restored warehouse space, MEGA has twenty-five-foot ceilings and a spacious layout for dozens of pieces of equipment. With parallel bars, uneven bars, vaults, and more positioned around the cushioned floor, students can spread out and work with their class in different zones. One section is cordoned off for use by the youngest gymnasts, with miniature versions of all the equipment. Additionally, there are trampolines, a foam block pit, and padded areas for floor work.
Gymnastics isn’t just for Olympic hopefuls. Recreational gymnastics helps children develop core strength and flexibility that translates well into every other sport. “Our students have used their gymnastics background to transition into cheerleading, diving, and careers in the military,” says Levon. “They become confident in what their bodies can do, and they see firsthand the results of training and discipline.”
That discipline isn’t just physical discipline. “All our programs stress respect and positive growth,” says Levon. “We teach our students to set goals and then achieve those goals through a series of safe progressions.”
Children can start at MEGA as early as eighteen months with gentle and fun classes that show them the fun of using their bodies to play. Recreational gymnastics classes progress through three different age groups with no pressure to compete, although some students begin to identify as having the potential to do so. For students who opt into competitive gymnastics, the teams practice more often and with greater focus.
Levon says, “We also have adult classes for people who are interested in fitness, but who want to train in a different way than just going to the gym.”
MEGA’s coaches tailor each class to meet the goals of that group of students, whether it’s grade schoolers needing to burn off energy or elite students, some even from Rhode Island or New Hampshire, who travel to train here.
MEGA is a dominant force not only on a regional and state level, whether by team or individual. MEGA’s students also compete successfully on the national and international level.
MEGA’s competitive gymnasts have won remarkable acclaim in the five years MEGA has been open in Millis. Just this year, Isabella Ciolfi placed first on vault in the Women’s Eastern Championship. Then, Boys’ Team member Frederic Richard took First Place All Around in the 17-19 Junior Division at US Championships, earning him a place on the USA Junior National Team and was selected to represent the USA in the first-ever Junior Pan-Am Games that will happen this November in Columbia. His teammate Ian Lasic-Ellis competed in this same event at the senior level. At the Junior Pan Am Championships in Guadalajara, Mexico, where Levon served as head coach, Frederick placed first all around and Ian second. Of the six events, MEGA students took three of the gold medals, with Ian getting a gold medal on parallel bars, and Frederick getting a gold in high bar and vault.
MEGA students frequently come to the attention of college recruiters, as well. “It’s extremely difficult to get scholarships for gymnastics,” Levon says, “but our students have consistently won college scholarships. This not only saves them money, but it gives them the opportunity to continue competing at the college level.”
To explore what gymnastics can do for you or your child, please visit https://www.masselitegymnastics.com or call (508) 376-0102.
Tucked behind the old Ann and Hope building on Route 109, Millis’s Massachusetts Elite Gymnastics Academy (MEGA) attracts high-level gymnasts from all around the region, and then sends them to win awards all over the world.
Those same coaches also teach area children basic recreational gymnastics, tumbling, and trampoline skills. Pre-Covid, they held birthday parties and camps for school-age kids.
“Gymnastics can start young, and it should be fun,” says Levon Karakhanyan, owner of MEGA. “We’ve set up a safe, spacious academy for everyone to learn the art of gymnastics and see how far it can take them.”
Levon Karakhanyan knows just how far that is, being a world class gymnast himself. He held the title of Armenian National Champion four times and competing in the European and World Championships. He’s worked as a coach and as a judge on an international level since 1995, even coaching Armenian gymnast Houry Gebeshian at the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
Located in Ann and Hope’s restored warehouse space, MEGA has twenty-five-foot ceilings and a spacious layout for dozens of pieces of equipment. With parallel bars, uneven bars, vaults, and more positioned around the cushioned floor, students can spread out and work with their class in different zones. One section is cordoned off for use by the youngest gymnasts, with miniature versions of all the equipment. Additionally, there are trampolines, a foam block pit, and padded areas for floor work.
Gymnastics isn’t just for Olympic hopefuls. Recreational gymnastics helps children develop core strength and flexibility that translates well into every other sport. “Our students have used their gymnastics background to transition into cheerleading, diving, and careers in the military,” says Levon. “They become confident in what their bodies can do, and they see firsthand the results of training and discipline.”
That discipline isn’t just physical discipline. “All our programs stress respect and positive growth,” says Levon. “We teach our students to set goals and then achieve those goals through a series of safe progressions.”
Children can start at MEGA as early as eighteen months with gentle and fun classes that show them the fun of using their bodies to play. Recreational gymnastics classes progress through three different age groups with no pressure to compete, although some students begin to identify as having the potential to do so. For students who opt into competitive gymnastics, the teams practice more often and with greater focus.
Levon says, “We also have adult classes for people who are interested in fitness, but who want to train in a different way than just going to the gym.”
MEGA’s coaches tailor each class to meet the goals of that group of students, whether it’s grade schoolers needing to burn off energy or elite students, some even from Rhode Island or New Hampshire, who travel to train here.
MEGA is a dominant force not only on a regional and state level, whether by team or individual. MEGA’s students also compete successfully on the national and international level.
MEGA’s competitive gymnasts have won remarkable acclaim in the five years MEGA has been open in Millis. Just this year, Isabella Ciolfi placed first on vault in the Women’s Eastern Championship. Then, Boys’ Team member Frederic Richard took First Place All Around in the 17-19 Junior Division at US Championships, earning him a place on the USA Junior National Team and was selected to represent the USA in the first-ever Junior Pan-Am Games that will happen this November in Columbia. His teammate Ian Lasic-Ellis competed in this same event at the senior level. At the Junior Pan Am Championships in Guadalajara, Mexico, where Levon served as head coach, Frederick placed first all around and Ian second. Of the six events, MEGA students took three of the gold medals, with Ian getting a gold medal on parallel bars, and Frederick getting a gold in high bar and vault.
MEGA students frequently come to the attention of college recruiters, as well. “It’s extremely difficult to get scholarships for gymnastics,” Levon says, “but our students have consistently won college scholarships. This not only saves them money, but it gives them the opportunity to continue competing at the college level.”
To explore what gymnastics can do for you or your child, please visit https://www.masselitegymnastics.com or call (508) 376-0102.
