About
Rise Athletics
Our team of fitness and nutrition professionals are invested in your health. We make every decision with our members’ well-being in mind. Achieve your goals with us!
The Team
Mark and Jaimee Roberts
Founders
Mark and Jaimee both grew up playing competitive sports. Mark played rugby throughout his childhood and university and Jaimee as a competitive gymnast and cheerleader. Their love for sports led them both to pursue degrees in Sport and Exercise Science and Physical Education. Mark began coaching whilst studying in university and has since had the opportunity to coach everyone from elite athletes to elderly clients needing rehabilitation. Jaimee also started her coaching career in college as a gymnastics coach when she met Mark and was introduced to Weightlifting. For the past 6 years she has focused on developing her skills as a Weightlifting coach. Mark and Jaimee opened Rise Athletics together to provide a training space that focuses on delivering the best quality coaching in a community centric environment. Inspiring people to become the best version of themselves, surrounded by people that support and encourage them. Mark CERTIFICATIONS BSc Sport and Exercise Science, UKSCA, USAW National Coach, FMSC-L2, PPSC*M, PN-L1, OPEX-L1, Crossfit-L2, CPR/AED Jaimee CERTIFICATIONS BS Physical Education, USAW National Coach, CPR/AED
Sarah Hellwig
Nutrition/Assistant Weightlifting Coach
Growing up Sarah was a competitive gymnast, in college she transitioned to track & field and eventually powerlifting. After graduating in 2019, Sarah found Olympic Weightlifting and has been competing ever since. As long as she’s in motion, she’s happy. Sarah loves baking, crafting, puzzling, reading, and rock climbing in her spare time. After studying Pastry and Business in college Sarah wanted to improve her overall nutrition knowledge and took her Precision Nutrition Level 1. She is passionate about helping members in her community understand how nutrition impacts their health. In the next year, she is working to get her certification with NASM for personal training and her USAW-L2. As a coach and an athlete, she is always looking for ways to learn and grow. CERTIFICATIONS BS Business Studies, USA Weightlifting L2, Precision Nutrition L1, CPR/AED
Josh Jenkins
Sports Performance Coach
Josh is originally from the Bay Area, California, but has been in Orlando for the last 3 years. His passion for fitness started while attending The United States Military Academy on football scholarship. His passion was born out of a desire to maximize elite athletic function while developing long lasting and healthy functionality. Like most athletes Josh dealt with his fair share of ankle issues, seeing this as an all too common occurrence, he strives to decrease the likelihood of injury in all his athlete’s/client’s training while also helping them to achieve their fitness goals. In his spare time, Josh enjoys being a movie critic, book reader, gym rat, and trivia expert. His favorite movie is Gladiator. Favorite book/series is the Ender’s Game Anthology. He loves pushing his limits in the gym while also being an amateur Jeopardy! whiz. He still plays Football for the Orlando Predators Arena Football Team. CERTIFICATIONS NASM CPT-1, Body Design University 2020, USAW-L1, CPR/AED
Jacob Cantu
CrossFit Coach
Jacob Cantu picked up a tennis racket at just four years old and went on to compete internationally through his late teens, including two years as a professional player. In 2018, he discovered CrossFit and immediately knew he’d found his next passion. Since then, he’s earned his CrossFit Level 1 and USAW certifications and has dedicated himself to coaching athletes of all ages and abilities.
Jacob has had the opportunity to train on-site with Training Think Tank and previously with CrossFit Mayhem among some of the sport’s most elite competitors. Whether he’s training, competing, or coaching, Jacob brings the same energy and dedication he had on the tennis court into the world of CrossFit-always learning, always pushing, and always striving to help others reach their full potential.
Will Becvar
CrossFit Coach
Will Becvar, or Coach B, brings over two decades of coaching experience to the Rise Athletics team. Since starting his personal training business in 2001, his career has spanned a variety of settings, from private studios to a full-time YWAM Sports and Fitness ministry. After an injury in 2012, his passion took a new direction, leading him to focus on mobility and functional movement. This path led to his CrossFit Level 1 Trainer certification and his subsequent achievement of the CrossFit Level 3 Certification. Along with his coaching, he is a full-time K-12 Physical Education coach, bringing a team-oriented mentality to Rise.
As a seasoned coach, he understands the importance of movement as we age and the need to navigate the ups and downs of life. Coach B’s philosophy is simple: your workout should be the best hour of your day. He believes that finding joy in your training is what motivates you to stay consistent, and that consistency is the foundation for achieving your goals. Outside of coaching, Coach B enjoys spending time with his family, unwinding at the beach, rucking, and playing the piano.
Leah Mangham
Assistant sports performance coach
Leah is a dedicated Sports Performance Coach with a strong foundation in athletic training, personal fitness, and competitive sports. A lifelong athlete and passionate coach, she currently plays for the University of Florida Women’s Ice Hockey Team and the Florida Women’s Hockey League (FWHL).
Leah’s journey into coaching began early—as a junior Taekwondo instructor at 13 years old. Since then, she has explored various facets of health and fitness, ultimately finding her niche with Ice Hockey and Sports Performance training. Her approach blends athletic experience with an academic interest in human physiology. She is pursuing a degree in Microbiology and Cell Science, with plans to advance her career into Sports Medicine as a physician.
Leah holds an Associate of Arts degree, graduating Summa Cum Laude with honors. Outside of the rink and gym, she enjoys diving back into CrossFit, studying for her next exam, spending quality time with friends, or relaxing with her dog.
Driven, knowledgeable, and passionate about helping athletes reach their full potential, Leah brings energy, experience, and science-backed strategies to every coaching session.
Certifications: NASM – CPT, CrossFit level 1, USA Hockey CEP Level 3, CPR/AED
Austin Torres
Strength club coach
Austin is originally from Pennsylvania, and made the move to sunny Florida in 2017. Fitness has always been a significant part of his life, and his passion for it led him to share that love with others. Austin attended Penn State University and holds both ISSA Personal Trainer and USA Weightlifting Level 1 certifications. With over 8 years of experience in sports performance and strength and conditioning, he has worked with high-level high school and collegiate athletes, helping them reach their full potential. At Rise, Austin plays a key role by programming and coaching our Strength Club class, as well as offering personal training to help members achieve their individual goals. Outside of coaching, Austin loves connecting with people. CERTIFICATIONS BS Kinesiology, USA Weightlifting L1, ISSA CPT, CPR/AED
Kyra Picone
Assistant weightlifting coach
Kyra Picone brings over a decade of athletic discipline and healthcare experience to her coaching. A former collegiate cheerleader for the TCU Horned Frogs, Kyra has been dedicated to fitness and performance from a young age. She discovered CrossFit in 2012 and has been actively competing in Olympic weightlifting for the past 12 years.
Outside of the gym, Kyra earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Houston Baptist University and became a licensed Registered Nurse in 2018. With seven years of hands-on experience as a bedside nurse on a medical-surgical unit, she brings a unique perspective on health, recovery, and overall wellness.
Kyra is also a proud wife and mother, balancing family life with her passion for helping others achieve their fitness goals. Her coaching style is rooted in experience, resilience, and a deep understanding of both physical performance and personal well-being.
Katie Grinsell
Assistant MANAGER
Katie has been passionate about fitness since discovering CrossFit in 2013. She began coaching in 2018, starting out in Los Angeles before relocating to Orlando. She joined the Rise community in 2021 and became a member of the Rise Weightlifting team in 2024.
Now a Licensed Massage Therapist specializing in sports and recovery, Katie combines her experience as a coach and athlete to help others move, perform, and feel their best. She is currently pursuing her Certified Orthopedic Massage certification and NASM certifications to further expand her focus on recovery, performance, and overall wellness.
Her goal is to support athletes both in and out of the gym—bridging the gap between training and recovery to enhance longevity, resilience, and strength.
Outside the gym, Katie enjoys paddle boarding, being outdoors, and spending time with her partner, Mike, and their four cats.
CERTIFICATIONS: USAW Level 2 • CrossFit Level 1 • Licensed Massage Therapist (Sports & Recovery)
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