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Kevin Hickman, Owner, Athletes Choice
Kevin Hickman has spent his entire life excelling in sports. His football career took flight while attending the Naval Academy, where he still holds the records for Most Receptions by a Tight End and Third All-Time Leading Receiver. Phil Emery, now the General Manager for the Chicago Bears, mentored Kevin during his four ears at the Naval Academy and taught Kevin the successful formula to strength and conditioning that Athletes Choice uses today. This style of training proved to be successful through Kevin’s NFL career with the Detroit Lions. In 1996, he was selected to be a member of the 1996 Muscle and Fitness Magazine’s All-NFL Strength Team. After a successful four years with the Lions, Kevin retired due to an injury. He then went on to reinvent the athletic program at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, NV. In four years, his knowledge, leadership skills and the hiring of amazing coaches took Gorman from an unknown school to a ranking in the Top 10 of all high school athletic programs in the United States (by ESPN and USA Today). He started coaching Pop Warner football and realized the void that was missing in his life, which was taking the style of training he learned and teaching all kinds of people — from children to professional athletes — how to gain success in their sport. This was the birth of Athletes Choice.
“Kevin came into my life at a crucial point. I was entering high school, and he saw something in me that no one else saw. Most saw my athletic talent, which he saw too, but Kevin saw more than that. He cared about me as a person and wanted me to succeed off the field as much as I hoped I would on the field. A big part of where I am today has to do with the time, attention and effort Kevin gave to me at such a young age. He taught me that accomplishing my athletic goals had as much to do with my character, self discipline and attitude as it did with my talent. Kevin was like a father to me and gave me so many chances when everyone else wanted to give up on me. I owe him so much and am very thankful that he chose to stick with me through the good times as well as the bad. I am so happy and excited to see he is still giving back to the youth of today through Athletes Choice. Anyone who is mentored and trained by Kevin will be blessed.” -DeMarco Murray, Running Back, Dallas Cowboys
See more testimonials here
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Female Head Coach, Director of Fitness, Personal Trainer
Ilene started her fitness journey at the age of 15 when get got her first gym membership. By the time she was 18 she was a fit bodybuilder and has never looked back. Fitness is a very important part of Ilene’s life. At the age of 42 she became an endurance head cyclist and completed eight Century’s (100 mile bike ride). She is a Certified Personal Trainer and has a passion for leading people along in their fitness and weight loss journey. Ilene has 3 children ages 23, 19 and 16.
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Colleen Bordages, Director of Softball
Colleen has competed in various sports ranging from competitive softball, soccer, boxing and flag football. She has also run numerous athletic training programs for varsity high school teams, group fitness classes and boot camps, private individual programs, and a number of sports, including softball, tennis, swimming, kickboxing, Pilates and yoga.
Her passion for competing, playing sports and working out is what drives her to work with teams, groups and individuals to unleash their inner ability, and push themselves beyond what they think they are capable of. Her goal is to inspire and motivate her students during athletic conditioning sessions.
Colleen teaches her students that more of what they do and accomplish is a result of their mindset. From professional athletes to stay-at-home moms, a person’s mindset helps determine the actions needed to stay “able-minded.” She believes that the mind must be included with the physical training to accomplish goals, regardless of whether they are training/sport goals, academic, or other life goals.
Colleen is a member of the National Council of Strength and Fitness, a certified TRX trainer and a certified Group and Boot Camp Trainer through the American Sports and Fitness Association. Additionally, she has more than 24 years of experience on the softball field, and competed at the Division 1 Level as a left-handed catcher and 1st basemen at Baylor University. Also, as a member of the Waco Boxing Association, Colleen competed and won in the 2003 Golden Gloves boxing competition.
Colleen enjoys outdoor activities, and graduated with a degree in Outdoor Recreation from Baylor University. She has lead and facilitated groups in leisure and group activities from population latency to geriatrics, both leisure and competitive training.
She has always dreamed about giving back and doing what she loves to do; play, coach and inspire. She works with Recreational Leagues, Travel Ball Organizations, Individuals, and Parents offering training in Softball Skill Development: Softball Soldier and Plate Warrior and in Athletic performance/ and Adult Fitness Conditioning: Athletic Warrior and Water Warrior; all thru Athletes Choice.
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Nick Tintle, Director of Lacrosse Training
College Accomplishments:
♦4 year starter for the University of North Carolina lacrosse team.
♦2 time All-American (2007-2008)
♦Senior captain (2008)
♦Turnbull trophy award winner: recognized as teams most valuable player (2007)
High School accomplishments:
Graduated from MacArthur High School on Long Island (2004) and was a 2 sport athlete in football and lacrosse
Lacrosse
Received All American honors senior year as a midfielder on the lacrosse team and was named as Nassau county midfielder of the year as a senior. Nick was also a two time All-County selection and all conference honoree.
Football
Nick was a two time All County selection as a tailback/ cornerback and made the All-State football team as a senior.
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Sam Reed, Speed Training Coach