One and One Podcast

Niko Spezial played baseball at Wake Forest University from 2010-2013. Afterwards, he was drafted in the 19th round of the 2013 Major League Baseball Draft by the Washington Nationals and played Minor League Baseball in the New York-Pennsylvania League and the Gulf Coasts League in 2013. He talks about growing up in Northern New Jersey, how he got into baseball, and his decision to attend Don Bosco Prep for high school. Niko details his great high school baseball career where he pitched for a program that was ranked number 1 in the country and won a National Championship. Then, he describes getting drafted in the 2009 MLB Draft, his decision to attend college, and the recruiting process that led him to choose Wake Forest. Niko discusses the coaches he committed to leaving two weeks before he got to campus, his decision to stay, what it was like playing for Head Coach Tom Walter, the competitive baseball in the  Atlantic Coast Conference, being a bullpen pitcher, and his highlights over his four years. Finally, he talks about getting drafted by the Washington Nationals in 2013, his time playing in the Minor Leagues, his decision to move on from baseball after 2013, and what he's been up to over the past ten years.

Danny Spond played football at the University of Notre Dame from 2010-2012. Prior to his Senior season, he had to medically retire from the sport due to debilitating migraines but he stayed on with the team for the 2013 season. Danny talks about growing up in Littleton, Colorado, getting into football at a young age, and being on a dominate Little League Football team as a kid. He describes what it was like to attend Columbine High School and how special the community is. He details his great Columbine Football career, how good of a program it is, playing many positions, and missing his final games as a senior due to a concussion. Then, he explains why he committed to Notre Dame, his transition to college football, what it was like the first time he put on a jersey, and the team's trying first two seasons. He details his first experiences with migraines prior to the 2012 season, getting cleared to play, and starting every game he played in as Notre Dame went undefeated in the regular season and played for the National Championship. Danny then discusses how the migraines came back prior to his senior season, how debilitating they were, his guess at what caused them,  and the very hard decision to medically retire from the sport of football. Finally, he talks about his student coach position for the 2013 season, working with the linebackers, traveling to his home state of Colorado for a game against Air Force, still being a big fan of Notre Dame football today, and his great life with his wife and three children.

Steph Cruz played volleyball at Fairfield University from 2009-2012 and currently has her purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. She talks about growing up in Midland Park, NJ, getting into sports through her late father, her great high school career at Immaculate Heart Academy, and what it was like to play through her senior season as her father passed away. She describes her recruiting process, why she chose Fairfield, her transition from high school to college volleyball, and playing in the MAAC. Steph discusses her career at Fairfield, learning to be a great role player and teammate, winning a MAAC Conference Tournament, and playing in the 2012 NCAA Tournament. Then, she talks about moving down to South Carolina a few years after college, how she got involved in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, earning her purple belt, the intense training schedule, teaching classes, and her goal of continuing to compete throughout her life.

Erin Dunston is the Assistant Athletic Director of Football Recruiting & Events at Ohio State University. Prior to that, she was the Director of On Campus Recruiting at Ohio State (2021-Feb. 2024), the Director of On Campus Recruiting at the University of Kansas (2019-2021), the Athletics Administration Associate at Purdue University (2018-2019), and a Graduate Assistant in Football Operations at Louisiana State University (2016-2017). She talks about growing up in Silver Spring, Maryland, attending the University of Delaware for undergrad,  how she got started working in football while at grad school at LSU, and what it was like working for Head Coaches Les Miles and Ed Orgeron in the SEC. Then, Erin discusses her position at Purdue where she worked mainly with the football and men's basketball programs on many different projects, how the opportunity at Kansas came to be, getting to work with Les Miles again, what the position of Director of On Campus Recruiting entails (it's a lot!), and recruiting through the pandemic. She describes how the opportunity at Ohio State came up, what it's like to work in the Big Ten at one of the very best college football programs in the nation, working with Head Coach Ryan Day, all the work that goes into recruiting at the national level, what is it like to be a woman in a male dominated field, helping other women get into the field, and the relationship she has with the players. Erin also chats about the Ohio State - Michigan rivalry in the Dunston household as her younger sister Jillian played on the Michigan Women's Basketball team and now is an Assistant Coach for the program.

Ryan Henry played softball at Villanova University from 2019-2023 where she was a First Team All Big East Player, a part of 2 Big East Championship Teams, and made 2 NCAA Tournament appearances She talks about growing up in Ramsey, NJ, how she got into softball, her great Ramsey High School career where she was an All State player, originally committing to play in college at Fordham, and how she switched to Villanova. Ryan discusses being diagnosed with diabetes just a few short months into college, how that diagnosis led to studying theater and performing arts, not being completely happy her first 2 years at the school, and the Covid break being able to give her a reset. Then, she details her great 2021 and 2022 seasons where Villanova won back-to-back Big East Championships (the first 2 in school history), played in 2 NCAA Tournaments, her decision to come back for a 5th season, and the 2023 season where they came up just short of another Big East Title. Finally, she discusses what she's been up to since graduation, her desire to work in theater/film, and directing her first production "Delivery Boy" this past month.

Michelle Cruz played volleyball at Providence College from 2013-2016 and holds the school record for career digs. She talks about growing up in Midland Park, NJ, how her late father got her and her sister Stephanie involved in volleyball and other sports at a young age, and the position of libero. She details her excellent high school career at Immaculate Heart Academy where she won 4 straight state championships, was First Team All State, and broke the record for career digs. Then, she describes the unique story that led her to Providence College, the transition from high school to college volleyball, majoring in Computer Science, and playing for Head Coach Margot Royer-Johnson. Michelle discusses her great career at Providence where she played in every single game, switched from the America East Conference to the Big East Conference after Freshman year, led the team in digs each season, and was featured in a documentary entitled "Girls Who Code"  Finally, she talks about what she's up to these days which includes preparing to become a mother, working in computer science, and still keeping in touch with many of her former teammates.

Kennedy Martin played basketball at Truman State University, a Division II school in Kirksville, MO,  from 2014-2018. She talks about being from Iowa but moving to Southern Illinois as a kid, her connection to the University of Iowa Women's Basketball Team which includes her younger sister Kate Martin as a current member of the team and her aunt Jan Jensen on the coaching staff, growing up going to the Iowa Women's Basketball camp every summer, and her experience at the Final Four last year. Kennedy describes her great three-sport career at Edwardsville High School, the phenomenal basketball program the school has that develops a ton of girls who go on to play in college, her recruiting process, and why she chose Truman State. Then, she discusses the transition to college basketball, how much she loved her team, highlights over the four years, her embracing her role on the team, being able to travel abroad, and writing for the school newspaper.  Kennedy details a moving article she wrote prior to her Senior season discussing the different basketball paths her and her sister Kate took, what she's learned from it, and what she hoped to teach Kate. Finally, she talks about what she is up to now, which includes playing in a basketball league with men, being a new mother to her young son, and watching every Iowa game.

Kristina Lynch played soccer at Florida State University from 2018-2021 where she was a member of 2 National Championship teams before transferring to the University of Notre Dame from 2022-2023 to finish her college career. She talks about growing up in Granger, Indiana, being a Notre Dame fan as a kid, how she got into soccer, and winning the NFL Punt Pass and Kick competition in 2010 and 2021. Kristina discusses her decorated career at Penn High School where she was the Gatorade Player of the year for the state of Indiana, a First-Team All American, and won 2 State Championships. Then, she describes her recruiting process, why she chose Florida State, the transition to college soccer, and the competition in the Atlantic Coast Conference. She details her career at FSU, which included winning 2 National Championships, going to 3 Final Fours, dealing with an ACL tear and recovery, and maintaining a 4.0 GPA. Kristina talks about her decision to use the extra year of eligibility the NCAA granted due to Covid, why she chose to transfer back home to Notre Dame, how special it is to be at the same school as her younger brother (Ryan plays baseball for Notre Dame), an ankle injury that led her to redshirt in 2022, the highlights of this past 2023 season, and her exciting plans for the future. 

Lexi Weger is the Graduate Assistant Coach for the University of North Carolina Women's Basketball program. Prior to that, she played basketball at Princeton University from 2018-2023 where she won 4 Ivy League Regular Season Championships,  3 Ivy League Tournaments, and played in 3 NCAA Tournaments. She talks about growing up in Alexandria, VA, going to Episcopal High School where she boarded all 4 years, her outstanding high school career there, the recruiting process, and why she chose Princeton. Then, she discusses the transition to college basketball, the success of the Princeton program, Coach Courtney Banghart leaving after her freshman year, and current Coach Carla Berube taking over. Lexi describes the great 2020 team and what could have been had the NCAA Tournament happened, her decision to take a gap year, and what she did for that year.  She talks about several internships she's taken, her final two seasons at Princeton where they won a game as the lower seed in the NCAA Tournament both years, and  how she realized she wanted to get into coaching. Finally, Lexi shares how she ended up at UNC, what it's like being back with Courtney Banghart, and her duties as the Graduate Assistant.

Kate Blasi is a registered yoga teacher, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and owner of Seaquence LLC.  She talks about growing up in Bergen County, New Jersey, in an athletic family, playing many sports as a kid, and when and how she got into yoga. Kate discusses what she loves about yoga, her favorite kinds to do, why it has become a more popular form of exercise, and how she stayed connected to yoga during Covid. Then, she details becoming a registered yoga teacher in 2021 and all that it entailed, balancing teaching several yoga classes a week while working a full time job and having a family, using yoga techniques as a BCBA to help neurodivergent children, and also using yoga techniques on her toddler aged daughter to help calm her down. Finally, she describes her new business, Sequence, which is designed to support women through all stages of motherhood- from pregnancy through parenting using yoga-infused techniques.

Jenna Giacone is the Assistant Coach and Director of Scouting & Player Development for the University of Illinois Women's Basketball Team.  Prior to that, she played basketball at the University of Dayton from 2016-2022 and was on the training camp roster for the Seattle Storm in 2022. She talks about growing up in Delmar, New York, in a very athletic family, playing basketball with her sister Gabby, who is only 15 months older than her, her great career atBethlehem Central High School, and the recruiting process that led her to choose Dayton. Jenna discusses her coach leaving before her Freshman season began, her reaction to Head Coach Shauna Green getting the job, their relationship, and the foot injury that led her to miss a lot of her Freshman season and her entire Sophomore season. She details her career highlights at Dayton which include winning the A-10, playing in the NCAA Tournament, being First Team A-10 and winning Most Improved Player, and the importance of coming back for a 6th season in 2022. Jenna also talks about how she "randomly" wrote a children's book "Gabby's Got Game", going through the details of how it started, what it is about, getting a publisher, and the great reception it's gotten. Finally, Jenna shares her experience with the Seattle Storm, knowing she wanted to be a coach from a young age, how the opportunity at Illinois came up, her roles on the staff, and looking ahead to the 2024 season.

Ka'lia Johnson played basketball at Duke University from 2011-2015, professionally in Europe for a year, has coached at a number of women's college basketball programs, and was recently named an Assistant Coach at Towson University. She talks about being an army brat as a kid before settling in the Richmond, Virginia area, and getting into basketball through her athletic family. She discusses her great high school career at Thomas Dale High School, becoming a Duke fan in middle school, and committing to her dream school as a Sophomore. Ka'lia details the transition to college and becoming great friends with the rest of her class (nicknamed EJAK). She also details her career highlights at Duke which included two Elite 8 appearances, an ACC Tournament Championship, playing with so many great players, staying ready when her number was called, recording a triple-double, and a senior night victory by 1 point over UNC. She describes her season playing professionally overseas in Switzerland and the Czech Republic, how she got into coaching, her coaching highlights so far in her career, and her new role with Towson.

Tania Davis is the Director of Player Development for the University of Iowa Women's Basketball Team. Prior to that, she was an Assistant Coach at the University of Nebraska-Omaha from 2021-2023, a Graduate Assistant at Clemson University from 2019-2021, and played at the University of Iowa from 2015-2019. She talks about growing up in Flint, Michigan, getting into basketball at a young age, her great career at Goodrich High School where the team went 100-8 in her 4 years, and the recruiting process that led her to choose Iowa. Tania discusses what it was like to play for Head Coach Lisa Bluder, being able to play right away, tearing her ACLs in back-to-back seasons her Sophomore and Junior year, the hard work she put in to get back, and realizing that she wanted to be a coach while she had to watch from the sidelines. She details the great season Iowa had in 2019 where they won the Big Ten Tournament and went to the Elite 8 and what it meant to her to be a 1,000 point scorer. Then, she talks about becoming a Graduate Assistant at Clemson, her duties in that role, her time as an Assistant Coach at Omaha, her reaction to getting the call to come back to Iowa, her role as Director of Player Development, and her excitement for the 2024 season.

Taylor Wright played baseball at Brown University from 2012-2015 and pitched in the Minor Leagues from 2019-2021. He talks about what it's like having former Villanova Basketball Coach Jay Wright as his father, his involvement with the program, and playing 3 sports growing up. He discusses his great high school career at  Episcopal Academy where he played football, basketball, and baseball, his recruiting process for baseball, and why he chose Brown. Taylor then details attempting to play 2 sports at Brown, competition in Ivy League Baseball, adjusting to coming out of the bullpen to pitch, and highlights during his college career. He describes why he didn't try to play professionally right after college, what he was doing for 3 years, and what led him to finally give pro baseball a shot. Taylor speaks about his time in the Minor Leagues on the Evansville Otters and Somerset Patriots, coaching JV Basketball at Episcopal Academy in the offseason, becoming a teacher at Episcopal after the 2021 baseball season, and recently being named the Head Coach of the Varsity Basketball team.

Maddie Plank is a current player on the Davidson College Women's Basketball Team. Prior to joining Davidson in 2022, she played at Princeton University from 2019-2022.  She talks about growing up as the oldest of four in Briarcliff Manor, New York, being passionate about basketball from a young age, great high school success, and the recruiting process that led her to Princeton. Maddie discusses getting injured her Freshman year and missing the season, Covid-19 cancelling the remainder of the 2020 season, and her decision to take a gap year in 2021. She details her adventurous cross-country cycling trip with Princeton Men's Basketball player Charlie Bagin, which included going East Coast to West Coast, stopping at cool sights along the way, meeting interesting people, and becoming best friends. Maddie talks about getting back to campus in 2022, the success Princeton had in the Ivy League and their run in the NCAA Tournament. Then, she explains her difficult decision to transfer after the season, why she chose Davidson, winning the gold medal in the 2022 Maccabiah Games and her experience in Israel as a Jewish American, this past season at Davidson, and her hopes for the upcoming 2024 season.

Dylan Geissert is the Associate Head Coach for the North Dakota State University Women's Basketball Team. Prior to being named Associate Head Coach, he worked as an Assistant Coach at NDSU from 2019-2023 and a Graduate Student Manager at the University of Kansas from 2017-2019. He graduated from Emporia State University in 2016 where he was a Student Assistant Coach and Male Practice Player for the Women's Basketball Team. Dylan talks about growing up in Herington, Kansas, playing 3 sports, and having an appreciation for women's sports because his mom is a great athlete. He discusses his intention to play baseball at Emporia State before an injury made him retire from the sport, how he got involved with the women's basketball team, the dominance that Emporia State has in Division II Women's Basketball, going from a Male Practice Player to a Student Assistant Coach, working for Head Coach Jory Collins, and making the 2015 Final Four. Dylan then details the opportunity to be the Graduate Manager for Kansas, going from a D2 school to a D1 school, working in the Big 12 Conference, and what his role entailed. He explains why he chose to move to Fargo, ND, when Jory Collins got the Head Coaching job at NDSU, his time as Assistant Coach, recruiting, coaching through the pandemic, building NDSU back up, and being named Associate Head Coach this past May.

Julia Cunningham played basketball at Princeton University from 2018-2023 where she was a part of 4 Ivy League Regular Season Championships and 3 Ivy League Tournament Titles. She talks about growing up in Watchung, NJ, getting into basketball a bit late, her great career at Watchung Hills High School where she is the All-Time Leading Scorer to this day, and the recruiting process that led her to Princeton. Julia describes the transition to Division I Basketball, playing right away as a Freshman, her Head Coach Courtney Banghart leaving after her first year, and how she liked Current Head Coach Carla Berube. Then, she discusses a promising 26-1 season being cancelled due to COVID-19, her decision to take a gap year in 2021 when the Ivy League cancelled all sports, what she did that year, and her excitement to get back on the court in 2022. Julia goes over the dominance of Princeton Basketball in the Ivy League, the upset wins they had in the 2022 & 2023 NCAA Tournament, and her future plans now that she has graduated.

Stephen Perretta is the Assistant Coach for the Iona College Women's Basketball Team. Prior to that, he was an Assistant Coach for the Fairleigh Dickinson Women's Basketball Team from 2021-2023. He graduated from Villanova University in 2021 where he spent time as a Male Practice Plater for the women's program and is the son of former Villanova Women's Basketball Coach Harry Perretta. Stephen talks about growing up around the Villanova program, what it was like to have a Division 1 basketball coach as a father, his own basketball playing career, and wanting to be a coach at a young age. He describes his time as a student at Villanova, his involvement as a practice player, other jobs he did around the athletic program, and watching his father coach his last season at Villanova. Stephen discusses how he got a Graduate Assistant position for FDU, getting promoted to an Assistant Coach one year later, all of the hype around FDU Basketball during the 2023 NCAA Tournament, following Head Coach Angelika Szumilo to Iona College in the off season, and his excitement for the 2024 season.

On today's brief episode, the host, Bridget,  explains why the podcast had to go on hiatus. However, there is great news. It's coming back!

Peter Lipari wrestled at Rutgers University from 2015-2019, Rider University in 2020, and Arizona State University in 2021. He talks about growing up in Byram Township, New Jersey, how he got into wrestling, and his first two years at Lenape Valley High School where he placed in the state. Peter discusses his family's move during his Junior year, transferring to Bergen Catholic High School, a nationally ranked program, the competition in the wrestling room, his excellent final 2 years there, and how it prepared him for college. He details his recruiting process, how he always wanted to attend Rutgers, and ultimately committing there before he was granted a scholarship (that was eventually granted). Peter chats about his first few seasons at Rutgers where he redshirted and got injured, the hard work he kept putting in, and the outstanding Redshirt Junior season in 2019 where he was the starter at 141 lbs.  and was an NCAA Tournament Qualifier. Then, he discusses transferring to Rider for his Redshirt Senior season, his highlights, and how it was cut short due to COVID-19. Lastly, he talks about using his 6th year of eligibility to wrestle at Arizona State, how he liked living out there, the odd 2021 season with so many pandemic rules, getting a job as an MMA agent once he was done wrestling, recently moving back to New Jersey, and his excitement for his career ahead.

Kyla Sears played lacrosse at Princeton University from 2018-2022 and became the program's all-time leading scorer. She talks about growing up in Skaneateles, New York, getting into lacrosse through her father, and her great career at Skaneateles High School where she won 2 State Championships, played in the Under Armor All-American Game, and came back from 2 knee injuries to win the 2017 National Player of the Year award. Kyla discusses her recruiting process and choosing Princeton because of the high academics, athletics, and the connection to her grandfather who was an alum. She details what it was like playing for Head Coach Chris Sailer, singing the National Anthem before every home game, Princeton's dominance in the Ivy League, and playing in the NCAA Tournament. Kyla then talks about the pandemic ending her junior season early in 2020, the tough decision she and her teammates made to defer a year in 2021 to maintain Ivy League eligibility, what she did during her off year, and coming back after a 2 year layoff, the pressure the team felt to send Coach Sailer off on a high note, and the phenomenal senior season that it was. She closes the episode off by talking about her decision to not take a 5th year of eligibility, getting a job she's excited about, and moving to New York City.

Grace Lange played basketball at Villanova University from 2017-2020, is currently in law school at the University of Pennsylvania, and recently won Miss Delaware. She talks about growing up in Newark, Delaware, in an athletic family, how she got into basketball, her great high school career at Caravel Academy, how she got into the pageant world, and winning Miss Delaware Teen in 2017. Grace discusses her recruiting process, her decision to become a preferred walk-on at Villanova, and getting to continue her modeling career in a pre-NIL NCAA. She details her highlights at Villanova, the great team chemistry, playing for Head Coach Harry Perretta, and the tough decision she made to graduate early in 2020 and not play basketball her Senior season. Grace then chats about her getting into law school, the type of law she wants to pursue, and why she competed for Miss Delaware in 2022. She explains the process, winning the crown, and now preparing to compete for Miss USA coming up on October 3rd. 

Danielle Rauch played basketball at the University of Michigan from 2018-2022 and is now the Graduate Assistant for the Clemson University Women's Basketball team. She talks about growing up in Syracuse, New York, in an athletic family, how she got into basketball, and her outstanding career at Bishop Ludden High School where she became the all-time leading scorer and once had a quadruple-double. Danielle discusses the recruiting process, why she chose Michigan, and being apart of a great recruiting class that would ultimately be the most successful class in the history of the program. She describes being a backup point guard behind a teammate in her class, playing in the very competitive Big Ten, playing for Head Coach Kim Barnes Arico, and having the 2020 season cancelled due to COVID-19. Then, Danielle details the 2021 season, becoming the starting point guard during the NCAA Tournament and helping lead Michigan to a Sweet 16 appearance, and starting every game her senior year in 2022. She chats about what a successful season 2022 was, the chemistry the team had, making it to the Elite 8, the press conference that went viral, and why she chose to not use an extra year of eligibility. Finally, she talks about her new position as the Graduate Assistant for Clemson, her duties, and her future career in coaching.

Jon Quigley is a hiker who has logged over 1,600 miles on the Appalachian Trail during 3 different trips. He talks about being born in Pennsylvania, but growing up in West Virginia, getting into hiking through his family, being a big Philly sports fan, running cross country and track in high school, and serving in the United States Military.  Jon discusses why he decided to hike the Appalachian Trail in 2013, how he got his trail name "Jupiter", his experiences, and why he went back and hiked more miles in 2015. Then, he details why he decided to leave his job and home in Philadelphia to hike the trail from April-September 2022. He speaks about starting out with good friends, people he met along the way, beautiful sights he saw, and the injury that forced him to leave the trail in late May. Jon gives an update on the injury, his life now back in West Virginia, and his intentions to long-distance hike on another trail in the future.

Taj Benning played basketball at Fairfield University from 2017-2022. He talks about growing up in Fair Lawn, NJ, getting into basketball through his father, starting AAU at a young age, attending Bergen Catholic High School, being apart of the Bergen Catholic/Don Bosco rivalry, and his recruiting process that led him to choose Fairfield. Taj discusses the transition to college basketball, the competition in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), and losing more games that he was used to since he attended a dominant high school. He details the highlights of his 5 year career, going through a coaching change but never questioning a transfer, going through COVID-19 as a college athlete, and his decision to play the extra year the NCAA granted. He also explains what is next for his career, which includes hiring an agent and playing professionally overseas.

Mike Giambagno is the founder of Every Ball Has A Story, a company that tracks golf balls and the stories they create around the world. He talks about growing up in Paramus, NJ, being the middle of 3 boys, getting into golf at an early age from his father, and his high school career on the golf team. Mike discusses enjoying golf into adulthood, some of the courses he's played at, and the courses that are on his bucket list. Then, he details how he, his brothers, and a friend came up with the idea of Every Ball Has a Story and putting that idea into action, which included buying a special printer, golf balls in bulk, making custom designs, and creating a website. Mike explains how the golf ball are tracked using QR codes, how a golfer who finds one of the balls can track the courses it has been played on, and how the golfer can then log the courses they have played the ball on. He discusses the progress the company has made since starting in April, some short term goals for 2022, and long term goals going forward.

Mary Schwappach played soccer at the University of Notre Dame from 2012-2016. She talks about growing up in Denver, Colorado, how she got into soccer, starting club soccer at an early age, and being on many successful teams. Mary describes her Mullen High School career where she was a 3-sport athlete, excelling in basketball, track & field, and soccer, but only playing 2 years of high school soccer to prioritize club.  She details her recruiting process, why she chose Notre Dame, switching from the Big East to the ACC following her freshman year, and her career highlights which include 4 years of making the NCAA Tournament. She then discusses her knee injury senior year, the long recovery process, and the difficulty of watching as her team had a great season. Mary gives an update on what is going on  as a post-grad which includes moving back to Denver, loving her job, and keeping up with Notre Dame athletes. Fun fact: Mary has been to all 7 continents!

Caleb Krueger played basketball and ran track & field at Ottawa University from 2012-2016 and is now the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for the University of North Carolina Women's Basketball team. He talks about growing up in Wakefield Kansas, how he got into basketball and track & field, his great career at Wakefield High School, and the process that led to him playing 2 sports at Ottawa University. Caleb details how he was able to play 2 sports at the collegiate level, how he managed his time, and how burning himself out freshman year led him to his interest in strength and conditioning. He discusses how he changed up his training process, the highlights of his basketball and track career with Ottawa, graduating early, and interning with the basketball team. Caleb explains his first job in strength and conditioning at Ottawa working with 8 different sports teams, going to the University of Kansas and working with the women's basketball team, men's basketball team, and softball team, and how he adjusted his trainings while student athletes were away from campus during the pandemic. He then talks about how the job with the UNC Women's Basketball team came to be, what it's like to work with Head Coach Courtney Banghart, what a day during the season looks like for him, and his excitement for the 2023 season.

Charlie Bagin played basketball at Princeton University from 2017-2022, and during a gap year in 2021, he cycled across the country with fellow athlete, Maddie Plank, raising money for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). He talks about growing up in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, being the oldest of four kids, how he got into basketball, and playing on competitive AAU teams. Charlie discusses his high school career at Don Bosco Prep, the rivalry with Bergen Catholic, winning a State Title and a Bergen County Title, and being class valedictorian.  He then explains his recruiting process, why he chose Princeton, the transition from high school to college, and what it was like playing for Head Coach Mitch Henderson. Charlie details his Princeton basketball highlights, playing in the Ivy League, his thoughts on Ivy Madness, and why he decided to take a gap year in 2021 when the Ivy League cancelled all sports. He talks about how this cycling trip came to be, why him and Maddie decided to raise money for NAMI, and he gives all the details of the amazing 68 day trip! He wraps up the episode chatting about his great senior season where Princeton won the Ivy League regular season and his plans for the future.

Christian Rodriguez played baseball at Prairie View A&M University in 2017-2018 before getting cut from the team. Instead of transferring, he stayed at the school to complete his electrical engineering degree and found a love for coaching baseball. Christian talks about growing up in Cypress, Texas, being a Chicago sports fan, how he got into baseball, playing baseball at 2 different high schools in Cypress, and his recruiting process that led him to becoming a preferred walk-on at Prairie View A&M. He explains the try out process, the difficulty of making a baseball team as a walk-on, and getting cut on the last day, and his decision to stay at the school to pursue his degree. Christian describes how he got into coaching baseball through his younger brother, the age groups he coaches, what he likes about it, and how he balanced being a coach and a student. He details the joy he gets from coaching kids, his love for the recruiting process and watching his players sign letters of intents to play at colleges, his recent move to Fort Worth, Texas, after graduating college, currently working full-time, attending graduate school, and coaching, and his future in coaching.

Gianna Bowe played lacrosse at the University of North Carolina from 2016-2019 and was a member of the 2016 National Championship Team. She talks about growing up in Mullica Hill, New Jersey,  how she got into the sport of lacrosse, her great three-sport career at Clearview Regional High School, and recovering from an ACL tear her junior year. Gianna describes her recruiting process, why she chose UNC, the transition to college lacrosse, and the great freshman season where both the UNC Women's Lacrosse Team and the UNC Men's Lacrosse Team won National Championships. She highlights the rest of her career which includes winning 4 ACC Tournaments, never losing to rival Duke, making 2 more Final Fours, being a spark plug for the team, and the dominance of UNC Women's Lacrosse over the years. Gianna gives an update to what she is up to now which includes being engaged, a home owner, and continuing to support UNC athletics.

Tia Weledji played basketball at Princeton University from 2014-2018. She's also played on the Cameroon National Team and professionally overseas. She talks about growing up in Overland Park, Kansas, coming from an athletic family, her father's influence on her basketball career,  her great high school career at Saint Thomas Aquinas where she won a State Championship with her older sister, Nelly, and her recruiting process that led her to choose Princeton. Tia discusses Princeton's dominance in Ivy League Women's Basketball, playing for then Head Coach Courtney Banghart, playing against Nelly at Brown, the addition of Ivy Madness, and making the NCAA Tournament 3 out of 4 years. She also details the experiences she had playing on the Cameroon National Team in the summers of her Junior and Senior years. Tia also talks about her professional basketball career overseas, the countries she was able to play in, continuing to play for Cameroon, going through rehab after tearing her Achilles, supporting her younger sister, Serena at UPenn, joining Courtney Banghart's coaching staff at the University of North Carolina for a period of time, why her retirement from basketball isn't set in stone, and what's she's up to now.

Kelly Jekot played basketball at Villanova University from 2016-2020 &  Penn State University from 2020-2022. She talks about growing up in Enola, Pennsylvania, in a large, athletic family where she is the oldest of 4 daughters (that all play basketball), how she got into basketball, and her decorated career at Cumberland Valley High School where she won 3 State Championships with her sister, Kate, and was named Gatorade Pennsylvania Player of the Year twice. Kelly discusses her recruiting process, why she chose Villanova, playing for Harry Perretta,  playing in the 2018 NCAA Tournament,  playing against her sister in a Big Five game, and her first ACL tear that happened in 2019. Kelly explains her decision to become a graduate transfer, why she chose Penn State, transferring during COVID-19, and playing for Carolyn Kieger. She then details tearing her other ACL in 2021, having to go through the rehab process all over again, blogging her rehab through TikTok, and using her COVID year in 2022 to play the entire season for Penn State. Kelly discusses wanting to create a positive alumni culture within the Penn State program, her plans for the future, and her continued support for her younger sisters' careers: Kate at Saint Joseph's, Julie at La Salle, and Jillian in high school.

Kevin Hoehn played basketball for Villanova University from 2018-2021. He talks about growing up in Morristown, NJ, coming from an athletic family that includes the Arcidiaconos, how he got into basketball, attending Morristown High School where he had to opportunity to play with his older brother and scored over 1,000 points, and his experience at the 2016 Final Four that led him to want to play for Villanova. Kevin discusses his recruiting process, choosing to try out as a walk-on for Villanova instead of playing Division 2 or 3, not making the team as a Freshman, but staying connected to the program and doing whatever he could to be involved. He details making the team as a Sophomore, his first time suiting up against UConn at Madison Square Garden, getting to play with his cousin, Chris, and playing for Jay Wright. He also talks about the Tournament being cancelled in 2020, tearing his Achilles Senior year in 2021, his decision to not pursue a 5th year, attending the 2022 Final Four, and what he's up to now. 

Christina Foggie played basketball at Vanderbilt University from 2010-2014 and was drafted 24th overall in the 2014 WNBA Draft to the Minnesota Lynx. She is currently back at her alma mater as the Chief of Staff for the Women's Basketball team. She talks about growing up in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, how she got into basketball, AAU highlights, her stellar career at Lenape Regional High School where she became the all-time scorer, and her recruiting process that led her to pick Vanderbilt. Christina describes her great Vanderbilt career where she dealt with concussion issues early on, living in Nashville, playing in the SEC, making the NCAA Tournament all 4 years, the rivalry with Tennessee, breaking the 3 point record at Vanderbilt, and winning the SEC Scoring Title as a senior. She then details what it was like to be selected in the WNBA Draft, her experience at training camp, and her decision to not pursue a professional career overseas. She discusses her career working in athletics, including 6 years spent at St. Joseph's University, her decision to come back to Vanderbilt, what the role of Chief of Staff entails, working with Shea Ralph and her former coach Tom Garrick, and her excitement about the future for Vanderbilt Women's Basketball.

Tess D'Orsi played lacrosse at Princeton University from 2017-2020 where she helped the Tigers win 3 Ivy League Titles. She talks about growing up in Sudbury, Massachusetts, in a large athletic family, how she got into lacrosse,  her impressive career at St. Mark's High School where she broke 6 school records and was an Under Armour All American, and her recruiting process that led her to pick Princeton. Tess discusses the transition to college, what it was like playing for Head Coach Chris Sailer, the competitive Ivy League Conference, winning 3 straight Ivy League Titles, and playing in the NCAA Tournament. She then details her senior year in 2020 that was cut short due to COVID-19 and explains the emotions when she found out the season was cancelled and why she decided to not use her 5th year of eligibility. Tess also chats about living and working in New York, training for the Boston Marathon, continuing to follow Princeton Women's Lacrosse, and looking forward to being in attendance for Chris Sailer's last home game later this season.

Melis Kelly played tennis at the University of West Virginia from 2010-2012 and then transferred to East Carolina University where she played from 2012-2014. She talks about growing up in London, England, how she got involved in tennis, moving to Raleigh, North Carolina, in the 8th grade, and having to play quite a bit of catch up in order to get a ranking. Melismas describes her great high school career at Ravenscroft, winning a state championship, being ranked #1 in the state, and her recruiting process that led her to pick West Virginia. She explains that the coach she committed to play for resigned three days before she was moving on campus, her decision to stick with West Virginia, getting coached by a grad assistant for a while, and then having a head coach named after 3 months. Melis details the abusive coaching style the woman had, her decision to stay and play her Sophomore year there, and why she ultimately decided to transfer after 2 years. She discusses why she chose East Carolina University, the great relationship she had with her head coach there, how happy she was to play tennis again,  her great record there, and what she's up to now as a wife and working mom to 2 small children.

Justin Jones played football at LSU from 2016-2019 and Prairie View A&M from 2019-2020. He talks about growing up in Dallas, Texas, being a big Dallas Cowboys fan, and coming from a family full of football players. Justin discusses his 3 sport career at St. Mark's School of Texas where he excelled in football, wrestling, and baseball, why he chose to pursue football in college, and the recruiting process that led him to become a preferred walk-on at LSU. He describes what it was like going from a private high school to a large University, Les Miles getting fired in the middle of his Freshman year, what it was like playing for Ed Orgeron, the SEC football environments at home games and away games, and his decision to transfer after his junior year in hopes of more playing time. Justin then talks about why he chose Prairie View A&M,  playing Special Teams, getting a degree in engineering, and what he is up to now.

Sean Kelly was a student manager for the Duke Basketball team from 2011-2014 before joining the team as a walk-on in 2015 and becoming a National Champion. He talks about moving from Carmel, New York, to Raleigh, North Carolina, at a young age and coming from an athletic family  where his parents both played sports in the Ivy Leagues, his sister played volleyball at Elon, and his brother Ryan also played basketball at Duke, (National Champion in 2010) played in the NBA, and currently plays overseas. Sean describes how he got into basketball and baseball, his interesting high school sports career at Ravenscroft where he mainly focused on baseball, his decision to attend Duke, and why he decided to become a student manager. He breaks down the duties of student managers, working for Coach K, getting to be around his older brother, Ryan, and his decision to transition to a player.  Sean details the work he put in to get in shape, finding out he made the team, what it was like to suit up every game,  the 2015 team chemistry, their run to the Final Four, and winning the National Championship. He then discusses his life as a husband and father, attending Coach K's last home game, and how he thinks Jon Scheyer will do as Head Coach.

Christina Esposito is a Professional Lacrosse player, the Head Coach for St. Dominic High School (Oyster Bay), and the Women's Lacrosse Director for the Long Island Jesters. Collegiately, she played at Northwestern University from 2013-2017 where she was an All Big Ten Player. She talks about growing up in West Babylon, New York, getting into lacrosse late for Long Island standards, playing many sports growing up, and playing club lacrosse. Christina discusses her great West Babylon High School career where she earned 12 varsity letters playing lacrosse, soccer, and basketball, being a 2 time All-American in lacrosse, and playing in the Under Armour All American Showcase 3 times. She describes her recruiting process, why she chose Northwestern, how historic the Northwestern Women's Lacrosse program is, and the transition from high school to college. Christina then details her injury riddled Freshman and Sophomore years, working hard to come back as a Junior, earning her starting spot back as a Senior,  being a team captain, and her decision to come back for a 5th year that ended up being her best season at Northwestern.  She talks about her 2 years as a Professional Lacrosse player, how injuries led to her decision to retire (for now), her passion for coaching, and her hope that the sport continues to grow.

James Gillespie played football at Widener University from 2016-2021 where he was an All-American,  and basketball in 2019-2020. He talks about growing up in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania, coming from an athletic family (his older sister Victoria was a swimmer at the University of Delaware and his younger brother Collin is currently on the Villanova University Basketball Team), how he got into football and basketball, and thinking he would focus on basketball at the start of his high school career. He details his career at Archbishop Wood High School where he was a great Wide Receiver, his father being on the coaching staff, and winning back-to-back state titles . He also talks about his basketball career and playing with his brother, Collin. James discusses his recruiting process, why he chose Widener, the transition to college football, playing in the Middle Atlantic Conference, and the competition in DIII College Football. He then talks about his standout career, breaking his collarbone Junior year when he was playing great football, and coming back the next season to win the the MAC's Offensive Player of the Year and become an All-American.  James explains why he chose to join the basketball team after his Senior season, transitioning from football to basketball, and being the hustle player every team needs. He then discusses his decision to come back for a 5th year in 2021 but having to wait a year since the NCAA cancelled the 2020 season, his 2021 season, and how he is currently training for the NFL draft. 

Myles Ehrlich is a WNBA beat writer covering the New York Liberty for Nets Republic, the Connecticut Sun for Winsidr, and the WNBA in general for Queen Ballers Club. He talks about growing up in Brooklyn, New York, playing sports, specifically basketball and baseball, and writing since a young age. He discusses attending NYU for college where he found his passion for writing, how he got involved with the WNBA, what it's like writing for 3 different sites, and balancing this with a 9-5 job. Myles details what a typical day during the season looks like for him, attending every Liberty game last season, being in the press conferences, and writing player profiles for Queen Ballers.  Myles gives his opinions on the WNBA free agency, the Athletes Unlimited League, the growth of the WNBA, the rising popularity, and his excitement for the 2022 season.  He also  talks about writing a novel in his free time called "From The Bleachers", the personal story behind it, and his timeline for publishing.

Steven Johnston played basketball at Fairfield University from 2012-2015 and now runs his own basketball training company "No Days Off".  He talks about growing up in Stamford, Connecticut, how he got into basketball, and his high school career that involved 3 different schools and re-classifying.  Steve discusses his recruiting process, why he chose to walk-on at Fairfield University, getting cut as a Freshman, but staying on the team as a Team Manager and a practice player, and his work ethic that led him to suit up the final game and earn a spot on the team as a Sophomore.  He then details his Sophomore season in 2013, becoming a regular rotation player in the lineup in the tough Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.  He talks about his Junior season in 2014 where he started multiple games, and his Senior year in 2015 where an injury derailed him slightly.  Through his college career, he never stopped working and literally went from team manager to a starting guard.  After college, Steve describes his time playing professionally in Canada, how and why he started No Days Off, what he teaches when he trains his players, and following all of their careers.  Some of the big names Steve has trained include Sonia Citron, Aaron Wheeler, Christyn Williams, and Olivia Nelson-Ododa.

Dave Day played basketball at Ouachita Baptist University from 2010-2014.  He talks about growing up in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, how he got into basketball, and being tall as a kid.  Dave discusses his great career at ThunderRidge High School, where both the boys' and girls' programs are phenomenal.  He talks about making it to the state Final Four, playing with other great players, having a good relationship with his head coach to this day,  also being a great Track & Field athlete (All State in the High Jump), and being recruited for that sport at the Division I level.  He details his recruiting process in both basketball and track, why he chose basketball, and how he ended up at Ouachita Baptist University, a Division II school in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.  Dave then dives into the transition from high school basketball to college basketball, living so far from home, and playing for one season with his older brother, Scott.  He talks about the highlights of his career,  which includes a Great American Conference Tournament Championship, meeting his wife in college, and what he's been up to since graduating from OBU: getting married, starting a family, moving back to the Denver area, and having a successful business career.

Taylor Becerra played softball at Arizona State University from 2016-2019 and went to the 2018 Women's College Softball World Series.  She talks about growing up in Whittier, California, how she got into softball, starting club at a young age, being a slap hitter, and playing middle infield as well as catcher growing up.  Taylor describes her career at La Serna High School where she won a CIF Division Championship, her recruiting process, and why she ultimately chose Arizona State.  She details her transition from high school to college softball, switching positions to 3rd base, the competition in the Pac-12, and getting to the College Softball World Series in 2018.  She speaks about her time in Oklahoma City and the experience she will have for a lifetime.  Taylor then discusses her senior season that was unfortunately cut short due to an ACL injury, how she came to terms with her career ending, and why she started TB26 Performance Training in Chandler, Arizona after graduating from ASU where she trains young softball players.

Conor Triplett attended the University of Notre Dame from 2015-2018 where he was a male practice player for the Women's Basketball team, and was there when they won the 2018 National Championship.  He talks about growing up in Phoenix, Arizona, being a twin, having a father that's a Professional Golfer (Kirk Triplett), and how he got into basketball.  Conor describes his basketball career at Brophy College Prep High School, getting recruited to smaller Division 3 schools, and his decision to attend Notre Dame as a student.  He then details how he became a member of the practice squad for the women's team, what it takes to be a practice player, having a high basketball IQ, and his experience working with former Head Coach Muffet McGraw and current Head Coach Niele Ivey.  He chats about the 2018 title run, going to the Final Four with other members of the practice squad, the rollercoaster of emotions that Final Four was, and a special moment between Muffet McGraw and the practice players after the game.  Conor discusses majoring in engineering and design, attending grad school at Carnegie Mellon, his career thus far, and his ultimately goal to build theme park rides.  

Donavan Mosley played football at the University of Alabama from 2015-2018 where he went to 4 straight National Championship games and won 2 National Titles.  He talks about growing up in San Antonio, Texas, coming from a large family with a military background, his love for the Dallas Mavericks, and how he got into football.  He discusses his career playing Safety at James Madison High School, his recruiting process, and why he decided to be a preferred walk-on at Alabama.  Donavan details the transition to college football, the culture of Alabama Football, what it was like playing for Head Coach Nick Saban, and playing with the best athletes, many of whom have gone on to have great careers in the NFL.  He talks about playing in the SEC, what practices were like, making it to 4 straight College Football Playoffs and 4 straight National Title Games, and coming away with 2 National Championships.  He then discusses being in the Disney movie "Safety" where he played the role of a Clemson player (not kidding!), starting his own podcast, and his continued support for the Alabama Football program

Blaise Lezynski played in the 2005 Little League World Series and then went on to play collegiate baseball at the University of Notre Dame from 2012-2015 and Mercer University in 2016.  He talks about growing up in Newtown, Pennsylvania, coming from a big Notre Dame family and being a fan of the Irish since a young age, how he got into baseball, playing 3rd Base, and being a fan of the Little League World Series before he was even a participant.  Blaise describes the summer of 2005 when his Newtown Little League team dominated the competition, had some scares in the Regionals, but making it to Williamsport.  He talks about his experience at the LLWS, playing on TV, and why he is still upset his team went 1-2.  Blaise then discusses his great career at Notre Dame High School, his recruiting process, and why he chose the University of  Notre Dame.  He chats about the transition from high school to college baseball, playing in the cold South Bend weather, his highlights at Notre Dame, and going from the Big East to the ACC.  He discusses playing summer baseball, the injury and illness that caused him to redshirt his senior year, and why he chose to transfer to Mercer.  He then describes his great season as a Graduate transfer at Mercer in Georgia, winning the SoCon, attempting to play professionally, coaching at Penn State for a year, and moving back to South Bend, Indiana, and becoming the co-founder of Onora Whiskey.Link to Onora Whiskey: https://www.onorawhiskey.com

Baylee Wellhausen played hockey at the University of Wisconsin from 2014-2018 and went to 4 straight Frozen Fours.  She talks about growing up in Williams Bay, Wisconsin, being a Badgers fan, how she got into hockey, and her family ties to the sport.  Baylee describes playing hockey with the boys when she was younger, choosing to attend the Minnesota boarding school Shattuck-St. Mary's for high school, her outstanding hockey career there, and playing for U-18 Women's National Team.  She then details her recruiting process, why she chose Wisconsin, her relationship with Head Coach Mark Johnson, playing in the competitive WCHA, scoring a ton of great goals, making it to 4 consecutive Frozen Fours, and loving her overall college experience.  Baylee discusses leaving hockey after graduation, but recently getting back into it and playing professionally in the PWHPA, coaching youth boys hockey, working, and getting her Masters degree.

Kelsey Budd played basketball at Bradley University from 2010-2014.  She talks about growing up in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin,  how she got into basketball, her AAU highlights, and her outstanding career at Sauk Prairie High School where she was First Team All State.  Kelsey describes her recruiting process, why she chose Bradley, the transition from high school to college basketball, and the school's support for the athletic programs.  She then details her great four year career, the competition in the Missouri Valley Conference, scoring over 20 points many times when she had to come off the bench, working her way back into the starting lineup, beating multiple Power 5 Schools, and making the Honor Roll every semester.  Kelsey discusses her famous teammate, Michelle Young, who is currently The Bachelorette, how she was as a player and a teammate, and what she thinks of the season.  She also talks about what she's been up to since graduation, doing well in her career,  keeping basketball in her life, and preparing for her upcoming wedding.

David Bergida wrestled at Virginia Tech from 2013-2017.  He talks about growing up in Belle Mead, New Jersey, how he got into wrestling at a young age, and his great career at Montgomery High School where he was a 4 year Varsity starter.  David then describes his recruiting process, the schools he was considering, and why he ultimately chose Virginia Tech.  He discusses the difficult transition from high school to college wrestling, the competitive ACC conference, and the success Virginia Tech had all 5 years he was there.  He speaks highly about his teammates and coaches, and how it was truly a family environment.  David explains his personal career there, going through some ups and downs, but ultimately coming out on top his 5th year to become the starter at his weight class.  He then discusses what he is up to now, living in the DC area, and continuing to coach and train at District Martial Arts.