Our Staff

Hockey

Bryce Gervais

Director of Hockey
 

Originally from Battleford, SK, Canada, Bryce has had an extensive career in Hockey, some of his experience includes:

  • 3 Seasons in the BCHL (British Columbia Hockey League)
  • 4 Seasons with Minnesota State Mankato Mavericks (NCAA Division I)
    • FUN FACT: Junior Year finished 2nd in the nation in goals scored with 27
  • 3 Seasons with the Chicago Wolves (AHL)
    • FUN FACT: 2017 Bryce was awarded the Tim Breslin Unsung Hero Award with the Chicago Wolves
  • 1 Season with EHC Olten (Swiss League)
  • 2 Seasons with Heilbronner Falken (DEL2)
  • 1 Season with Iowa Wild (AHL)
  • 1 Season with Stavanger Oilers (Norway League) LEAGUE CHAMPIONS!

Alex Timm

Assistant Director of Hockey
 
  • Skills Coach at Valley Sports Academy 2022-Present
  • Assistant Coach for the Hudson Havoc 2023-2024
  • Head Coach of Jr. Guardians 2012, 2024-Present
  • Played College Hockey at Finlandia University NCAA D3
  • Played Juniors for North Iowa Bulls & Minnesota Blue Ox
  • Grew up Playing in Barron, WI
  • From Sand Creek, WI

Baseball

PRESTON BENEDICT

Director of Player Development
 
Originally from Madison, WI. Graduate of UW-Eau Claire in 2021.
 
 
When not coaching baseball, I enjoy being on the lake musky fishing, primarily up in Eagle River, WI.

ADAM LAROCK

Coach/Instructor

Originally from Eau Claire, WI – Adam has an extensive baseball background and will be assisting our Baseball Staff with programs and offering individual lessons.

  • Played at Eau Claire North and made the State Tournament in 2016 while being a 2-time All-Conference Player
  • In college played at the University of Iowa, Madison College and UW-Milwaukee
  • Participated in the 2017 NCAA Tournament after winning the Big Ten Tournament at Iowa
  • Was named the North Central Community College Conference MVP in 2019
  • Both pitched and played the field at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
  • Played for the Eau Claire Express for 3 seasons

Softball

Hannah RItter

Director of Softball/Baseball Operations

hannah.ritter@valleysports.academy

Originally from Marengo, Illinois. Graduate from UW – Oshkosh in 2023.
 

Taylor Schmidt

Softball Instructor

With over 7 years of softball experience,Taylor brings strong knowledge, leadership, and passion to every session. A former VSA Guardian and previous coach for Hallie Elite 14U, she understands the game from both the athlete and coaching perspectives, helping players develop confidence and skill at every level.

Specialties:

  • Hitting

  • Infield & Outfield Defense

  • Catching

Sammi Bergeron

Pitching Coach
 
Sammi is a Junior pitcher at the University of Wisconsin – Stout. She has years of experience giving 1 on 1 and small group pitching lessons. Whether you’re a beginner pitcher or have more experience on the mound, Sammi wants to work with you!

Soccer

Jack LeZalla

Director of Soccer Coaching

jack.lezalla@valleysports.academy

Originally from St. Michael Minnesota Jack began soccer playin club for STMA United for many years before playing for Twin Cities Fire.  He then went on to play one season at Northern Michigan University before transferring to play one season at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire. Midway through his college career he knew coaching was my true passion.

Jack is a passionate young coach looking to make an important impact in the area. He is very involved within the soccer community in the Chippewa Valley.  Jack will be joining the VSA Coaching Staff this spring as a Part Time Soccer Coordinator and as a Coach to our U12 and U13 Classic boys teams!

Lukas Olson

Skills Coach
Lukas is a current college soccer player at Concordia University Wisconsin, where he is studying Sports and Entertainment Business with a minor in Athletic Coaching.
 
An alum of Memorial High School, Lukas brings two years of coaching experience and currently competes at the UPSL level with Bateaux’s Premier Team. 

Josh Ranft

Director of Soccer Operations

josh.ranft@valleysports.academy

Josh was born in Milwaukee, WI and moved to Eau Claire in 2019. After playing soccer throughout childhood and high school, he started coaching the same year he moved to the Chippewa Valley. He is working on obtaining his USSF D License.
 
  • Eau Claire Memorial High School
    • Boys’ Varsity Assistant (Fall 2024-present)
    • Girls’ JV Head Coach (Spring 2024-present)
  • Eau Claire United SC
    • U12 – U16 boys (2019-20)
    • U14-15 boys (2022-23)
 
In addition to coaching youth soccer, Josh is an administrator and the General Manager of Union des Bateaux FC, a men’s amateur soccer club based in Eau Claire. Starting as a player in 2019, he moved into coaching the team in 2020 and the GM role in 2023. As a coach of the team, UDBFC won the Wisconsin Primary Amateur Soccer League 2020-2022. As GM, the club added a second team and joined the United Premier Soccer League in 2023 and is adding a third team in 2025. The club’s main focus is to give the players growing up in Eau Claire a clear pathway to the adult game.

Grace Wingfield

Skills Coach

Grace is originally from DeKalb, Illinois. She recently graduated from Northern Illinois University with a degree in Kinesiology and a minor in Coaching.

She played at the club and college level, and she brings 2+ years of youth coaching experience. She recently completed a move back to the Chippewa Valley to be with her fiancé and is excited to be a part of the Valley Sports Academy/Guardians SC team!

Strength & Conditioning

NATE CUSTER

Sports Performance Coach

Hometown: Chippewa Falls

Nate played Football, Baseball, and Basketball at Chippewa Falls High School. He went to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and played 4.5 years of Football while earning a BS in Kinesiology with an emphasis on Strength and Conditioning. He graduated from College in December of 2023 and went on to intern with the Wisconsin Badgers for football Strength and Conditioning. He has been around fitness since he was young, but never understood much until he got into college sports where he grew a passion to help people get the most out of themselves, something he felt he missed until he got into college and even more so after. He would love to give adults an opportunity to have some directed and intentional exercise. He can adjust the structure of the classes to fit what they would all like to work on most and he looks forward to meeting and working with any and all of them!

Administrative

CHASE HOOPLE

General Manager
Chase is a Chippewa Falls native who is looking to give back to the Chippewa Valley. Growing up Chase was a multi-sport athlete playing hockey, baseball, and golf. After attending Chippewa Falls Senior High School Chase played 4 years of collegiate golf and got into coaching hockey where he has experience working with players ages 10U to High School.

PHILLIP J SWILER

Director – Community Engagement
Phil is responsible for developing our scalable growth by partnering with businesses that align with the VSA Mission.  He is also the producer and co-host of our Podcast – The Unfiltered Game plan with VSA.  
Phil is also the lead for our 3 Signature Events.  The VSA Celebrity Classic Golf Outing, VSA Charity Dodgeball Tournament, and Hockey Day Wisconsin.  
You will see Phil out in the community sharing the VSA story!
Phil is a Deforest WI area native who is dedicated to impacting the Chippewa Valley.  Growing up Phil was a multi-sport athlete playing football, hockey, baseball, and golf. 
 
Phil has extensive sponsorship, fundraising, and advertising experience. For the past 33 years Phil has been coaching hockey in all facets of the game, with all ages coached.  
 
He is also one of our VSA Guardian hockey program evaluators and helps various Guardian teams as needed.  
 
In his spare time, he loves to play golf, create music, eat great food, and spend time with family.  

ROSIE PETERSON

Reception Manager
Rosie hails from small town Osseo, WI where she ran cross country and track in high school. She was involved in student counsel, was student body president and has been involved in numerous student-led clubs in high school and college. The youngest in a large, blended family; she’s competitive and loves sports of all kinds. When Rosie isn’t at the front desk, you might find her behind the bar in the Guardians Tower, driving the Zamboni or making her rounds ensuring parents and athletes are having the best experience possible. She comes to VSA with 2+ decades of administrative/customer service experience and is the smiling face that manages the front desk!
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