Episcopal weightlifting coaches
Jesse Reynolds
Varsity Head Coach
Coach Jesse Reynolds graduated from the University of North Florida with a BBA in finance and is a certified USA weightlifting regional coach and a coach for Team Florida Weightlifting. Since 2003, he has been an assistant coach on multiple mens and womens national championship teams, and in 2006 he was the assistant womens coach for the USAW National Schoolage Camp at the United States Olympic Training Center. He is on the board of directors for the Florida Local Weightlifting Committee and has been a Florida representative at the USAW Board of Governor's meetings in 2004, 2005 and 2006. For the past four years he has been an official at the FHSAA State Weightlifting Championships and in December of 2005 he became a USAW national referee. Coach Reynolds has been the head weightlifting coach at Episcopal since January of 2004. He began the first ever weightlifting program at Episcopal. In this short time Coach Reynolds has helped many Episcopal students compete at national and international competitions, and these students have won multiple medals and awards at all levels. In June 2006 the Episcopal weightlifting team won the Sunshine State Games mens team championship.
Kyle Crooks
Assistant Coach
Coach Kyle Crooks graduated from Spruce Creek High School in 2005. He was a graduate of the ambitious International Baccalaureate program, which set him on the right track for success in the future. Initially a soccer player, he developed a liking for weightlifting in PE. Never the strongest lifter, Crooks pursued weightlifting out of pure love for the sport. He made varsity his junior and senior years, and participated at the state FHSAA championships, where his team earned top honors his senor year. Coach Crooks is currently attending the University of North Florida, pursuing a career in physical therapy. Since coaching a high-school team of his own is one of his dreams, he decided to work with the renowned Jesse Reynolds to increase his understanding of the sport.
Melissa Rice
Assistant Coach
Coach Melissa Rice has a background in both softball and weightlifting. Weightlifting is a family tradition for her; she grew up lifting, and her siblings competed in Olympic weightlifting for ten years. While improving her softball pitching she followed a strength and conditioning program using Olympic lifts for eight years. After completing her USAW club coach certification, Coach Rice trained athletes at VelocitySP in Chicago. In addition to coaching, she is a personal trainer and still participates in bodybuilding competitions.
Trey Southwood
Assistant Coach
Trey Southwood is an assistant weightlifting coach at Episcopal High School. He recently graduated from Armstrong Atlantic State University with a Master of Science in Sports Medicine. Southwood also has a bachelor’s degree in health with a focus on athletic training from the University of North Florida. In addition, he is a certified strength and conditioning specialist with the National Strength and Conditioning Association and a certified athletic trainer with the National Athletic Trainers Association. Southwood has a strong background in the sport of weightlifting; he was a national level weightlifter for more than 10 years, earning a bronze medal at the 2000 Nationals. He now holds a certification as a club coach with USA weightlifting, and will bring a lot of support to the already successful program at Episcopal High School.
Daniel Stanley
Assistant Coach
Coach Daniel Stanley is a University of North Florida student studying mechanical engineering. He currently participates in Olympic weight training with hopes to one day make it to the Olympics under the direction of legendary head coach Jesse Reynolds. Coach Stanley is a graduate of Spruce Creek High School where he was a member of the 2006 State Championship weightlifting team. He has six years of experience lifting at local and national levels, and looks forward to lifting at the international level.