For Katherine Shai, the sport of wrestling is embedded into the culture of her family. Her father was an Olympic wrestler, Olympic coach and was instrumental in growing the sport of women’s wrestling. Her sister was also an elite wrestler. She was drawn into it for its competitiveness and intensity but excelled once she understood the power of choice. By choosing to show up for herself and choosing how to train regardless of the outcome, she created the process to achieve success at every level. She became a 2X College National Champion. Senior National Champion, University World Champion, 7X Team USA National Team member and a 2X Olympic Alternate. More importantly, she helped give the sport a platform where others could advocate for themselves, get more opportunities and achieve the unthinkable like winning Olympic Gold Medals for USA in women’s wrestling. She has also used her experiences to create LuchaFit which is a series of resources including articles and workshops to address gaps in education, mental preparation and athlete well-being. Whether or not you get your hand raised at the end of a match, Katherine Shai teaches us to anchor into our values and choose to come back Monday! @katherineshai, @lucha.fit

Matthew S. Ibrahim, PhD(c), CSCS, LMT, is a strength and conditioning coach, college professor, public speaker, author, and founder of Athletic Performance University (APU). Currently, he serves as Clinical Coordinator/Instructor of Exercise Science and Co-Advisor of The Hidden Opponent chapter at Endicott College. Initially drawn to strength and conditioning for the structure, routine and discipline, he started to see the impact on self-efficacy, problem solving and positive change. He has shared his knowledge and experience in over 25 U.S. states at prestigious venues such as the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA), Perform Better, EXOS at Google Headquarters, Sports Academy (formerly Mamba), UFC Performance Institute, Duke University, Stanford University, and Equinox, along with several engagements across Europe. His professional work and expertise have been featured in leading platforms and publications, including Muscle & Fitness, Men’s Journal, NSCA Personal Training Quarterly, Science for Sport, and T-Nation. As an author, Matthew is set to release his first book through Human Kinetics in July 2025: “Train Like a Pro: Programming to Develop Your Inner Athlete”. @matthewibrahim_, www.athleticperformanceu.com    

In the sport of lacrosse, Marcus Holman is the standard of ultimate success. He was a 3X NCAA All-American at UNC Chapel Hill, 11X Pro All-Star, 2017 MLL Championship MVP, 3X Team USA Member, 2023 PLL Attackman of the Year and is currently 3rd All time in Pro Goals Scored. However, he will be the first to tell you that he has never been the best player, but he truly enjoys the process of getting better each day. In addition to training physically, he focuses on being present and remembers, “to play with emotion but don’t play emotional.” Marcus’ is not only the son of a lacrosse coach but also the husband of another professional lacrosse player. He shares both the challenges and unique relationship with lacrosse that he gets to experience. For him, this is truly a family affair! @marcusholman1

Anthony Pecorella is a Division 1 football punter, cancer survivor and mental health advocate. Like so many elite student athletes, he played multiple sports until he became a specialty player as a quarterback, kicker and punter. When given the opportunity to play at University of Maryland, a Big10 program, all seemed to be going well until it wasn’t. One night, while with family and friends, he heard a voice in his head saying that “he would not make it until tomorrow.” In that moment, he learned that “someone could have the biggest smile on their face while fighting the biggest war in their head.” Fortunately, that moment passed but shortly after, he was faced with the hardest but most rewarding period in his life. Diagnosed with cancer, he began his treatments on a pediatric floor where he was inspired by so many young kids who taught him that, “if they can do it (fight), he can do.” In particular, a 3-year-old named Elianna taught him the power of resilience, friendship and how to “Just Keep Swimming!”  While Eli is now gone physically, her legacy and mindset lives on in Anthony as he shares his story, her story, and so many others who are struggling physically and mentally. Through his speeches and advocacy work, the message is simple. “Give each moment your all because tomorrow is not promised and always keep 10 toes on the ground” @ant_pec98, @healthyminds____  

Allie Coyle is the head coach of the Montgomery Blair Boys Soccer Varsity team. Over the last 3 years as the head coach of the Varsity Boys Soccer, she has led the team to numerous titles including: 2x County Division Champions (2022, 2023), 2x Maryland 4A Region Champions (2022, 2024), Maryland 4A Semifinalist (2022), and, most recently, Maryland 4A State Champions (2024).  Through numerous injuries as an athlete that required multiple surgeries, she learned that it doesn’t matter how bad you get knocked down, what matters is how you get up. She knew her teammates needed her, and she needed them. While working as a teacher as an adult, a group of boys lost their coach mid-season and approached her to help. By saying yes and showing up for them, they began to show up for each other. Allie instilled her refusal to take no for an answer coupled with a culture a positivity. The outcome is remarkable. Coyle  became the first female of a boys’ soccer team to win the State Championship in the state of Maryland. This fall she not only brought in the coveted trophy but earned the title of Maryland’s Large Public High School Coach of the Year by the Maryland Association of Coaches of Soccer, as well as the Boys Soccer Coach of the Year from the Washington Post’s All Met. @coach.coyle, @montblairsoccer

Ally Sentnor grew up playing multiple sports, but soccer held a special place because on Saturday morning, soccer was always followed by Dunkin Donuts! By age 11, she committed to the sport itself and looked for every opportunity to improve. When it came time to choose a college program, she picked UNC not necessarily because it was the best soccer program and would make her the best player but because UNC would make her the best person given the focus on core values and building a culture of excellence through discomfort and chosen adversity. Ironically, sustaining a serious injury and navigating the psychological challenges she didn’t expect allowed her the opportunity to grow even more. By meeting with a sports psychologist and learning to better communicate her feelings, she gained a deeper appreciation for the concept of resilience, which was the core value she initially identified with. Her successes include 2019 Sports Illustrated Sports Kid of the year, , NCAA All-American, FIFA World Cup Bronze Medalist,  US National team member since age 14 and 2024 First Overall pick NWSL draft. Through it all, she understands that being true to your values is the secret to increase motivation, satisfaction, happiness and ultimately success. @allysentnor

Colleen Rue’s relationship with fitness has evolved over the years. Starting as a dancer and drill team member in high school, she transitioned to a fitness, aerobics, spin instructor then began running marathons, triathlons and ironman ultramarathons. While the events got harder, her connections with others grew stronger instilling a confidence that she could do anything if they believed in her. In addition to being a 2x Ironman finisher (with plenty of 70.3 finishes too!) and having 20+ years of experience as a coach, personal trainer and fitness instructor, she stands on the other side of the start and finish line with 10+ years of experience as an event host, speaker, emcee and race announcer. Her ability to truly understand what competitors are going through, meet them where they are at, identify what they need at any given moment and offer a level of support they didn’t realize they needed has allowed her to create deep connections, fosters participant’s personal growth, and develops bonds for life. Colleen Rue has the privilege of having a front row seat to see the struggle and heroic journey that endurance event participants’ go through and chooses to see the best in others for who they are and what they have to offer. @voiceofthemountain, @colleenrue  

Growing up, Mitch Mathews  didn’t know what hard was. He enjoyed what he was doing and was good at it. That was until the age of 25 when he lost his mother and his football career in the same weekend. These experiences lead to 3 years of pain and  anger until he finally learned that hurt people hurt other people, but healed people can heal other people.  This shift in mindset led him to give his life the theme, “Redefine Hard” where he started improving his perspective on life through doing hard things repeatedly. These experiences not only help authenticate and heal himself but also expose him to others where he can learn their stories.  This former NFL athlete turned entrepreneur is using his chosen and unexpected adversity to accomplish 3 major “hard” goals that he hopes will impact millions of people. Mitch Mathews wants to break a world record by 34 years old, be the entrepreneur of the year in Utah by 39 years old and plans to give away $50 million dollars away in his lifetime. @mitchmathews10  

TJ Malone is largely known for his accomplishments on the field including PLL Rookie of the Year, 2x All-American, 2x All-Big Ten Offensive player of the year and 2-time Tewaaraton Award nominee for the Penn State Lacrosse program. However, what he loves most is his process off the field. In fact, he prefers practice over games, uses wall ball as a form of meditation and believes in the power of “kaizen” or continuous improvement. By devoting hours to practice and falling in love with process over product and visualizing the feeling he wants vs the outcome he desires, he has been able to overcome various obstacles or adversity. Instead, he creates moments that he will remember for the rest of his life versus living with feelings of defeat. TJ chooses a mindset that takes him away from “I CAN’T” through “I CAN” and all the way to “I GET TO!” @tjmalone1

Marc Hodulich is an avid adventurer, accomplished entrepreneur and proud father  of two boys. While he has founded and exited multiple event series converging community, athletics and philanthropy, he is likely most known as the CEO and Co-Founder of 29029. This is an uphill premium endurance challenge that asks participants to hike up a major ski mountain, take a gondola down and repeat until they ascend 29029 feet or the equivalent height of Mt. Everest. As Marc describes, 29029 combines a physical obstacle, mental adversity, sleep deprivation, hunger, and unpredictable elements of weather to create an experience that helps one find out who they really are. Marc also explains his mindset as an endurance athlete who has completed this challenge 15x along with several 100-mile events and an Ironman triathlon. He discusses his definition of endurance and the ability to make a choice between  what we don’t want to do vs what we are able to do. Through his experiences and business, he appreciates the opportunity to establish connections and relationships, help others become their best, and allow vulnerability and authenticity to bring out the best in himself. Marc is telling his own story while helping others write theirs as well. @marc29029, @29029everesting, @29092trail