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PT - OT Team

Sports Performance Team

Our sports performance team at Colorado Center of Orthopaedic Excellence helps you get into peak condition, no matter your preferred sport. To maximize athletic performance, our programs for athletes of all skill levels, including professional and elite, implement a variety of fitness activities.

Safety and improved performance are our primary concerns. We will push you as an athlete to your edge while focusing on safe training methods. Improving body composition and performance technique are done in an educational, professional manner. Get to know our sports performance team.

Elizabeth Heil, CSCS

Lizzie King, MSc, CSCS, NSCA-CPT, USAW-L1SP
Sports Performance Coach

Lizzie received a Master’s of Science in Sports Medicine from the Strength and Conditioning Track at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. She also received a Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sports Science from the Fitness Track with a Concentration in Coaching Competitive Athletes at the University of Wisconsin- La Crosse. She is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and Personal Trainer through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, a Certified Level 1 Sport Performance Coach through USA Weightlifting, as well as holds two Silver Sneakers certifications through Tivity Health.

Lizzie has a variety of past experiences coaching youth sports; including Soccer, Gymnastics, and Figure Skating. She also has experience working as a wellness intern at the Brookfield, WI YMCA, where she helped develop their youth strength training program. During her time in graduate school, Lizzie performed several practicum positions, to include Colorado State University-Pueblo where she worked with the strength and conditioning coach for football and basketball, and the 365 Performance strength and conditioning coach in Monument, CO working with 7K Figure Skaters and Colorado Rampage Hockey Club members. She previously spent the last 2 years as a fitness instructor for seniors at Brookdale-Village at Skyline in Colorado Springs, CO. Lizzie currently works at the Colorado Center of Orthopaedic Excellence as a strength and conditioning coach. She has a passion for fitness, strength training, sports performance, and injury mitigation; and  especially enjoys working with youth athletes providing age-appropriate training to help advance their overall sport performance.

Katelin Staab, MSc, CSCS, TSAC-F

Katelin Staab, MSc, CSCS, TSAC-F
Sports Performance Coach

Katelin received a Bachelor’s of Science in Exercise Science from Colorado Mesa University (CMU); and received a Master’s of Science in Sports Medicine: Strength and Conditioning from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS). She is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and Tactical Strength and Conditioning Facilitator through the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

Katelin previously competed as a DII collegiate Swimmer at CMU. Once moving to Colorado Springs, and while at UCCS, she was a Graduate Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach where she coached at Colorado Springs Christian School and Cheyenne Mountain High School. In addition, she worked with the Colorado College swim team as a strength coach. While completing her master’s degree, she worked as the Head Age Group Coach for a competitive swim team in Colorado Springs, where she oversaw the youngest swimmers and assisted in strength and conditioning for high school level swimmers. Katelin currently works at the Colorado Center of Orthopaedic Excellence as a Sports Performance Coach. Outside of Sports Performance, her passions include spending time outdoors and traveling to the west coast to spend time with her family.

Rachel Carlson, MSc, CSCS

Rachel Carlson, MSc, CSCS
Sports Performance Coach

Rachel received her Bachelor’s of Science in Kinesiology and Physical Education from the University of Maine, and a Master’s of Science in Exercise Science with a Strength and Conditioning concentration from the University of South Florida (USF). She is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

Rachel competed as a Division 1 softball player while attending the University of Maine. During graduate school, she served as a graduate assistant to the strength and conditioning coaches at USF where she primarily assisted with the softball and cheerleading team. In addition, she worked as an assistant coach for a competitive club softball team in Tampa, Florida. After completing her master’s degree, she worked as an Assistant Softball coach at Yale University in New Haven, CT. Rachel currently works at the Colorado Center of Orthopaedic Excellence as a strength and conditioning coach. Her passions and interests in the field include performance-based nutrition and injury prevention.

John Bessette

John Bessette, CSCS, XPS, XFS
Sports Performance Coach

John received a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and a Minor in Psychology from North Dakota State University. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association; an EXOS Certified Performance Specialist, and an EXOS Certified Fitness Specialist.

While attending NDSU, John was accepted into an internship program for EXOS at the Andrews Institute in Gulf Breeze, Florida, during their 2016 NFL Combine season. While at EXOS, he worked with a wide variety of athletes, from high school and collegiate to NFL and MLB athletes. He also assisted in training US Special Forces. Shortly after his internship, John was hired as a Performance Coach for EXOS in San Diego, CA, where he worked for four years before moving to Colorado Springs to help open a new corporate EXOS site. John currently works at the Colorado Center of Orthopaedic Excellence as a Sports Performance Coach. His passions include skiing, travel, landscape photography, hiking and backpacking, and working with youth athletes.

Christian Kessenich

Christian Kessenich, CSCS
Sports Performance Coach

Christian received a Master’s of art from the University of Denver in Sport Coaching Education. He also received a Bachelor of Science in Sport Coaching with a concentration in Sport Psychology and Strength and Conditioning from the University of Southern Mississippi, where he also played soccer during his time. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Bioforce Certified Conditioning Coach, and Level 2 USA Weightlifting Coach. His practical education includes sports science analysis, soft tissue and joint mobilization techniques, golf and baseball mechanics through Titleist Performance Institute, leadership training, and multi-layered player assessments.

Christian has an extensive career in college athletics working with teams and athletes that earned numerous NCAA recognitions and awards, in addition to athletes transitioning into professional sports. His experiences also include coaching in private training facilities and professional sports. His coaching includes working with baseball, softball, track and field, cross country, soccer, volleyball, golf, football, lacrosse, wrestling, hockey, equestrian, sailing, tennis, and football. During his early years, he spent working under renowned performance coach Todd Durkin and under former Team USA Olympic lifting coach Gayle Hatch. After that, he had stops at the University of Montana, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Stanford University, Lee University, Clemson University, Charlotte Independence FC, and most recently, College of Charleston. Outside of coaching, Christian enjoys spending time outdoors, traveling to the Southeast to see his family, and cooking various ethnic dishes

Troy Sudduth

Troy Sudduth, CSCS
Sports Performance Coach

Troy received his Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science from the Metropolitan State University of Denver. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

Troy played football at the NCAA Division III level for Nebraska Wesleyan University before transferring and finishing his degree at MSU Denver. After graduating, Troy was an intern working with all Olympic Sports at the United States Air Force Academy. Then he was an assistant coach at Air Academy High School, coaching Wide Receivers and defensive backs and assisting as a strength and conditioning coach for the team. Troy currently works at the Colorado Center of Orthopedic Excellence as a sports performance coach, as well as the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at Cheyenne Mountain High School. Outside of coaching, his interests include playing golf, watching sports, and spending time with his family.

Taylor Stephenson, CSCS

Taylor Buff, MS, CPT- NSCA, PN1
Sports Performance Coach

Taylor is a Chicagoland native and was an athlete growing up. She participated in volleyball, softball, and soccer, with track and cross country being her main sports. She went to Illinois State University, where she ran track and obtained her Bachelor of Science Degree in Exercise Science and continued on to get her Master of Science in Exercise Physiology with a minor in Nutrition. She has been coaching and training adults and athletes for 9 years with a wide variety of clientele. Ranging from post-op surgery recovery, and return to sport, to training all levels of athletes, including professional athletes. She also has experience training adults in a 1:1 setting as well as a group setting. She is a Certified Personal Trainer through NASM and a Certified Nutrition Coach through Precision Nutrition.

Her passion is to educate the general population and athletes about the importance of exercise and nutrition and also encourage others to live a healthy lifestyle.

Outside of work, Taylor enjoys being adventurous by going on hikes, working out, camping, skiing, going to concerts, and adventuring around Colorado with her husband.

headshot coming soon

Reagan Oliver, BS, ATRIC
Sports Performance Coach

Reagan received her bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science with an emphasis in Aquatic Therapy from West Virginia University. She is a certified Arthritis Foundations Program Leader, Aquatic Fitness Professional, and Aquatic Therapy and Rehabilitation Specialist.

Throughout college Reagan served as a Swim Fitness Coach, where she honed her skills in teaching technique and programming workouts to enhance athletic performance. She has a strong background as an Exercise Physiologist, where she specialized in conducting comprehensive fitness assessments and developing tailored fitness programs for weight management. Reagan has taught a variety of fitness classes ranging from arthritis management programs to aquatic aerobic sessions and “Learn to Swim” classes.

Currently, Reagan applies her extensive knowledge as an Occupational Therapy Technician and Sports Performance Coach. In her dual roles, she integrates her passion for fitness and therapy to support and empower clients in their journey toward improved health and peak performance.

In her free time, Reagan enjoys participating in a variety of outdoor activities with her husband and dog, including rock climbing, hiking, skiing, and swimming.

Location & Phone

Orthopedic Office Locations:

CO Springs Briargate:
2446 Research Pkwy, Suite 200
Colorado Springs, CO 80920

Phone: (719) 623-1050
Fax: (719) 623-1051

CO Springs Chapel Hills:
2430 Research Pkwy, Suite 205
Colorado Springs, CO 80920

Phone: (719) 623-1050
Fax: (719) 623-1051

CO Springs South Lake:
1263 Lake Plaza Drive, Suites 210 B
Colorado Springs, CO 80906

Phone: (719) 623-1050
Fax: (719) 623-1051

Physical Therapy North:
2430 Research Pkwy, Suite 100
Colorado Springs, CO 80920

Phone: (719) 623-1795
Fax: (719) 623-1053

Physical Therapy South:
1263 Lake Plaza Drive, Suites 210 A
Colorado Springs, CO 80906

Phone: (719) 623-1795
Fax: (719) 623-1053

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