STAFF
MATT BOYD | Co-Owner
Matt has been training athletes of all ages in the DC area for over 10 years. He spent 3 years as the Strength and Conditioning Coach at St. John’s College High School Men’s Basketball and is the current Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for the two-time State and WCAC champion Bishop Ireton Women’s Lacrosse program in Alexandria, VA. Matt has worked with several professional basketball teams in China, as well as Taiwan’s Men’s National Team.
His interest in sports training grew in high school and while playing Division 1 baseball at George Washington University. 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 manager of the facility.
CHRIS WYCHOCK | Co-Owner
chriswychock@healthyballer.com
A former Division I athlete, Chris brings over 10 years of experience training athletes of all ages and skill levels from numerous sports.
After earning his Exercise Science degree at Towson University, Chris worked with Towson University Strength & Conditioning and University of Maryland Sports Performance, as well as JDyer/Johns Hopkins Strength & Conditioning. He also worked alongside and mentored some of the top Speed and Strength Coaches in the country.
Chris loved working as a Strength & Conditioning coach but knew he wanted a larger platform to reach people and use his passion for fitness training and athlete development. This led him to open Capital Performance Training in 2015, a sports performance center located in Bethesda, MD.
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 | Director of Performance
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.
JUSTIN HALSEY | Performance Coach
Justin has always had a passion for basketball and training, growing up playing basketball every chance he could get, playing through high school and on the AAU circuit. He sparked an interest and love for training starting in middle school at a local performance training facility. He went on to study and get a BS in Kinesiology from the University of Maryland. Justin has worked in different aspects of sports medicine and performance starting in high school with an internship in a concussion clinic, working in a physical therapy clinic in college, along working with the University of Maryland basketball team in an internship for a year. Recently he has worked the last 3 years training athletes and clients in a corporate gym and spending time managing a small personal training studio in the Bethesda, MD, and Northern Virginia area. Justin’s mission is to empower athletes and clients alike to reach the best version of themselves.
SHELBY MERCER | Performance Coach
Shelby has been interning and shadowing at Healthy Baller for months and has since started training clients. Shelby has been playing sports since she was younger and has always had a love for competing at the highest level. As a three-sport athlete in high school, including lacrosse, basketball, and field hockey, Shelby knew she wanted to continue playing at the next level. Shelby attended the University of Maryland where she played on the Women’s Lacrosse team and helped them win 2 National Championships in her four years there. Post-graduation, Shelby started coaching at the Capital Club Lacrosse program, during which time she earned her ‘Certified Person Trainer’ through NASM. Through her admiration of Strength and Conditioning in college, as well as her love for coaching post-graduation, Shelby knew she wanted to continue to help athletes grow to their highest potential. The work and time that the trainers at Healthy Baller put into their athletes inspired Shelby to pursue a career she has always been passionate about and has found a love for.
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 manager of the facility.
SHELBY MERCER | Lacrosse Skills Coach
Shelby has been interning and shadowing at Healthy Baller for months and has since started training clients. Shelby has been playing sports since she was younger and has always had a love for competing at the highest level. As a three-sport athlete in high school, including lacrosse, basketball, and field hockey, Shelby knew she wanted to continue playing at the next level. Shelby attended the University of Maryland where she played on the Women’s Lacrosse team and helped them win 2 National Championships in her four years there. Post-graduation, Shelby started coaching at the Capital Club Lacrosse program, during which time she earned her ‘Certified Person Trainer’ through NASM. Through her admiration of Strength and Conditioning in college, as well as her love for coaching post-graduation, Shelby knew she wanted to continue to help athletes grow to their highest potential. The work and time that the trainers at Healthy Baller put into their athletes inspired Shelby to pursue a career she has always been passionate about and has found a love for.
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.