STAFF
MATT BOYD | Co-Owner
Matt is the President/CEO and Co-Owner of Healthy Baller. He has been training athletes of all levels in the DC area since 2009. Matt leads the preseason conditioning program for the Gonzaga College High School Lacrosse Team and manages all Strength & Conditioning for the Capital Lacrosse Club. He oversees the Women's College Prep Program at Healthy Baller which has become highly regarded as the top training program for college athletes in the area.
His passion for performance training grew in high school and while playing Division 1 baseball at George Washington University. Having several inspirational coaches along the way Matt saw an opportunity to provide the same support to his clients. Matt’s unique understanding of the demands of both the high school and college athlete, help him create a dynamic training experience that results in athletes who consistently outperform their competition.
BLAIR O’DONOVAN | Co-Owner
Blair is the founder of Healthy Baller and has been training athletes in the DC area since 2000. His background and creative training techniques make him a leading expert on productive training for basketball players and have led him to work with several NBA players and teams around the world. He was most recently the Director of Physical Preparation for the Washington Wizards from 2018-2020.
Blair was the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the prestigious Nike All-Asia Basketball Camp held in China and the Jordan Brand Classic for several years. Locally, he was the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for the nationally renowned Nike Elite Gonzaga High School Men’s Basketball program as well as the Montrose Christian Men’s Basketball team. Blair has also worked as Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Washington Capitals (NHL), the Baltimore Ravens (NFL) and the Loyola University Men’s Basketball program.
GUSSIE JOHNS | Co-Owner
Gussie has been training lacrosse athletes across the DMV and country for over 10 years in various positions, skill levels, and ages. As a former Division I athlete at the University of Southern California and current US Women's National Team member (two-time gold medalist), she brings an unparalleled wealth of knowledge to the table.
As the current owner and director of Capital Girls Lacrosse Club, she is passionate about helping athletes achieve their goals at the next level through a fundamentally focused approach. Gussie brings her business background and entrepreneurial mindset to our team as a Co-Owner and CFO/COO.
CHRIS WYCHOCK | Co-Owner
chriswychock@healthyballer.com
Chris is the Vice-President and Co-Owner of Healthy Baller. As a former Division 1 athlete, Chris possesses extensive knowledge and over a decade of experience in training athletes within the DMV area. He has established a strong reputation for his work with Men's lacrosse and Women's soccer players. Committed to being a positive role model, Chris is dedicated to assisting athletes in achieving their goals.
Chris is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through The National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA) and is also certified in Applied Functional Science (AFS) through the Gray Institute.
Performance Coaches
KANE MCGOVERN | Site Director
First exposed to speed and agility training as a high school basketball player, Kane recognized his strength for training athletes. While attending Cabrini University for a Bachelors in Exercise Science and Health Promotion, Kane played collegiate basketball and held strength and conditioning internships at Cabrini, Lehigh, and Villanova Universities, working with both men’s and women’s athletic teams. He went on to receive his Master’s in Exercise Science from East Stroudsburg University, and worked with men’s and women’s basketball teams while interning at the University of Maryland during the summer of 2018. Kane has been part of the Healthy Baller team since Fall 2018.
CHRIS CALIGUIRAN | Performance Coach
Chris has always been passionate about playing basketball and has been playing since he was five years old. It wasn’t until middle school that Chris was first exposed to plyometrics, in which he began to have a passion for working towards being the best athlete he could become. Chris went on to play Division I basketball at Towson University, where he also earned his bachelor’s degree in exercise science. Shortly after, Chris pursued his Master’s degree in Health and Human Performance at Salisbury University at Shady Grove. It was during the final semester of his Master’s program that Chris was able to intern at HealthyBaller.
At HealthyBaller, Chris gained knowledge and insight about training athletes that he hadn’t yet been exposed to. During his time interning at HealthyBaller, Chris saw the passion and care that each performance coach had for helping their athletes become the best athletes they could become and knew that he wanted to do the same as well. Chris wants to continue to share his passion for being the best athlete and version of themself possible with all athletes and clients that he comes in contact with as well as helping them to reach all of their goals.
SHELBY MERCER | Performance Coach
Shelby has been passionate about sports from a young age, excelling in lacrosse at the University of Maryland, where she helped the team win two National Championships, including one in 2019. After graduating, she began coaching club lacrosse at Capital Lacrosse Club and earned her CPT through NASM to enter the performance training field.
For the past 4 years, Shelby has worked at Healthy Baller, focusing on performance and lacrosse training. She’s collaborated with schools like Bishop O’Connell, Alexandria City High School, and Saint Stephens, providing off-season and pre-season training, as well as stick skills and speed development. Shelby is now the Associate Director of Lacrosse at Healthy Baller’s Rockville location, where she continues to leverage her experience to develop well-rounded lacrosse players and athletes.
JEREMY SCHLAFSTEIN | Performance Coach
Jeremy’s passion for sports, especially basketball, has been a driving force throughout his life. A graduate of Michigan State University, he began his career coaching youth basketball for various local organizations and schools while teaching in the Montgomery County Public School system. With nearly a decade of experience coaching and teaching youth athletes, Jeremy understands the impact a coach can have on a player’s confidence and well-being.
After overcoming major hip reconstruction surgery, Jeremy’s commitment to fitness deepened, leading him to earn his NASM ‘Certified Personal Trainer’ certification and focus on performance training. He has been interning and shadowing at Healthy Baller for several months, continually refining his skills and expertise. Jeremy is excited to continue growing as a trainer and make a positive impact on his athletes by combining his teaching and coaching experience with his evolving knowledge of performance training.
SOPHIA CHBARAT | Performance Coach
Raised in Alexandria, Virginia, Sophia played soccer and swam throughout high school. It was during a high school weightlifting class that her interest in fitness truly blossomed. Discovering the power of strength training to enhance athletic performance sparked her desire to help others reach their full potential through exercise. Sophia earned her degree in Kinesiology from George Mason University, where she gained a deeper understanding of exercise science, human movement, and sports performance.
After graduation, she spent three years at Capstone Performance, working with athletes of all ages and from various sports. She honed her skills in designing individualized training programs that addressed each athlete’s unique needs. Sophia focused on improving strength, speed, and injury prevention, while always tailoring her approach to the specific demands of each sport. For Sophia, it's about fostering a positive and supportive environment where athletes feel empowered to push their limits, improve their skills, and take pride in themselves.
JUSTIN LUPONE | Performance Coach
Justin has been coaching and training in the fitness and athletics industry for over 5 years. He has a wide range of knowledge, including, speed development, change of direction/agility, strength and conditioning, and sport-specific skill work/athleticism. Justin has experience coaching middle, high school, and collegiate athletes in a variety of sports, but mainly Track & Field and Football. Justin comes to us from Massachusetts and recently relocated to D.C. to pursue a master’s degree in Exercise Physiology with a concentration in Strength and Conditioning from George Washington University. He is currently the Track & Field Sprints and jumps coach at George Washington University.
Justin’s mission is to change the way people think about Health and Fitness! He believes that human Performance is the key to a happy and healthy lifestyle. The body is a machine with unlimited potential and the better you use it the better your life will be.
lacrosse skill coaches
GUSSIE JOHNS | Director of Lacrosse
Gussie has been training lacrosse athletes across the DMV and country for over 10 years in various positions, skill levels, and ages. As a former Division I athlete at the University of Southern California and current US Women's National Team member (two-time gold medalist), she brings an unparalleled wealth of knowledge to the table.
As the current owner and director of Capital Girls Lacrosse Club, she is passionate about helping athletes achieve their goals at the next level through a fundamentally focused approach. Gussie brings her business background and entrepreneurial mindset to our team as a Co-Owner and CFO/COO.
SHELBY MERCER | Lacrosse Skills Coach
Shelby has been passionate about sports from a young age, excelling in lacrosse at the University of Maryland, where she helped the team win two National Championships, including one in 2019. After graduating, she began coaching club lacrosse at Capital Lacrosse Club and earned her CPT through NASM to enter the performance training field.
For the past 4 years, Shelby has worked at Healthy Baller, focusing on performance and lacrosse training. She’s collaborated with schools like Bishop O’Connell, Alexandria City High School, and Saint Stephens, providing off-season and pre-season training, as well as stick skills and speed development. Shelby is now the Associate Director of Lacrosse at Healthy Baller’s Rockville location, where she continues to leverage her experience to develop well-rounded lacrosse players and athletes.
Physical therapists
DR. TEDDY WILLSEY PT, DPT, CSCS | Director of Sports Medicine
As an online influencer, speaker, and writer, Teddy has grown to be known worldwide for his work in the field of sports medicine. Teddy emphasizes injury prevention, strength training, and long-term planning as a means to staying healthy and performing at the highest level. In addition to working with professional and elite performers, Teddy enjoys working with lifters, recreational athletes, and active adults.
DR. DREW DUDEK PT, DPT, ATC | Clinic Director
Drew experienced multiple injuries during his high school baseball and basketball careers. He was able to work through them, and went on to play D2 basketball while majoring in Athletic Training. Drew is passionate about helping his athletes return stronger and more confident than before their injury. Drew has a special interest in working with overhead athletes and rehabilitating complex knee injuries.
DR. HARRY FISCHER PT, DPT | Performance Physical Therapist
Harry is a former college baseball player turned distance runner. He focuses on building strength and resiliency in his patients to get them back the activities they love and helping them reach peak performance. Harry has a special interest in treating running injuries and working with overhead athletes.
DR. LAUREN COX PT, DPT | Performance Physical Therapist
Lauren has been involved in sports throughout her youth and has overcome several injuries along the way. In college, she fell in love with weightlifting. She specializes in creating personalized rehab plans that match the specific goals of her patients. Lauren has a wide range of experience from pregnancy and postpartum related therapy to helping athletes return to the sports and activities they love.