Next Level Athletics - McPherson

Next Level Gymnastics Academy, located in McPherson, KS, offers trampoline, tumbling, and cheer classes. The owner and head coach, Matthew Paul was born February 5th, 1988, in Emporia, KS. His parents, Dennis and Cindy Paul, both retired teachers, spent their careers teaching for School District #253. Matt currently lives in Wichita, where he is attending WSU studying Psychology.

At the age of five, Matthew began training for men’s traditional 6-event gymnastics in Emporia. 6 years later, the gym Matthew attended transitioned from traditional gymnastics to Trampoline & Tumbling. Matthew continued competing in the new branch of gymnastics for the next 5 years. During this time, Matt began coaching classes for various gyms. Matthew’s competitive Trampoline & Tumbling career was a very successful one, leading him to numerous 1st place performances across the entire Midwest region. He quickly advanced to level 10 in both the Trampoline and the Double-Mini Trampoline events, where he maintained an impressive winning record year after year.

When Matt began high school, he transitioned from gymnastics to the Swimming & Diving team. In the winter months, he dove for Emporia High School at meets and invitational tournaments throughout the state. From the beginning, Matthew’s diving career looked promising as he qualified for state in his freshman season. In his sophomore year he claimed the school diving records in both the 6-dive and 11-dive events. Throughout his high school career, Matt placed at the State Championships, and continued to achieve 1st place finishes at nearly every meet in which he participated. He earned the Centennial League titles in both his junior and senior years.

Throughout his high school years, Matt became involved with many of the school’s other athletic programs. Although he was already instructing gymnastic classes for private gyms in the community, Matt was still able to help train his fellow athletes and teammates at Emporia High. Matt was the assistant trainer for the Girls Gymnastics Team during his freshman and sophomore years. Every year after the boys’ diving season ended, he assumed the role of assistant trainer for the girls’ diving team. These responsibilities rotate yearly around his school diving season.

In the summer months, Matthew continued his training at various camps and facilities specializing in diving, gymnastics, and competitive cheerleading. Over the summer break of his freshman year, Matt joined the EHS cheerleaders to attend Emporia State University’s NCA sponsored cheer camp. Matt spent the following summer at the Longhorns Diving Camp in Austin, TX. While at this camp, Matthew was able to practice directly under the guidance and instruction of the nations’ most accomplished diving coach. Matt spent the summer months of his junior and senior year traveling to Wichita to train at Extreme Athletics. There, Matt practiced advanced tumbling techniques, and was able to train with Extreme’s All-Star competitive cheer team each week.

Upon graduating from Emporia High, Matt enlisted in the Kansas Army National Guard. In 2007, Matt deployed to southern Iraq with the 35th Military Police. He deployed again in 2010, this time travelling to the Horn of Africa with the 2-137th Infantry CAB. Matt originally enlisted as a supply specialist, but once he arrived at his unit, he completed courses in several other fields as well. In the last 7 years, Matt’s received training in almost every section of the Army, and has worked alongside the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and Marine Corps in missions across the world. Today, he uses his training and experience to educate and develop his fellow soldiers in the Kansas National Guard. Matthew has been awarded several federal and State commendations for his ability to clearly deliver courses and effectively train soldiers.

When Matt was not overseas, he took classes at the Flint Hills Technical College in Emporia. While enrolled at Flint Hills, he finished several classes, including a 2-year automotive technician program and an EMT course. Matt had attended many Army courses for first-aid and injury management, and had been a designated combat life-saver for his units on both deployments. In 2010, Matt received his State and National certifications as a registered EMT. He still maintains these certifications by attending training classes and volunteering in the emergency department at the Veteran’s Hospital in Wichita.