Meet Zach

At Gonzaga University, Zach was named youngest team captain in team history as a freshman. He helped take the team to new heights culminating with a runner-up finish his senior year at a conference tournament and helping the team qualify for Nationals. Zach played competitive rugby for over 15 years, winning two state titles and being named MVP of the all state team his senior year.

After his college career ended he represented various select sides and men's clubs and even got invited to various USA Select Camps across the country. He was part of the Nashville men's club Sevens team helping them win numerous tournament championships en route to representing the team at the USA-South Championship tournament. He was a co-captain for the U23 Minnesota select side in the Midwest Regional Championships. His career ended as a member of the Metropolis Rugby Club in Minneapolis where he captained the Division II side and helped support the Division I team as a bench player en route to multiple second place Midwest finishes.

Many never saw it but Zach used a combination of visualization, meditation, and breathwork skills to help enhance and elevate his performance and allowed him to play at the level he did. After his playing career ended in 2021, Zach decided to move towards working on the mental side of the game and passing on the skills he used and learning from playing to help the next generation of athletes to help them elevate their on-field performance. 

My WHY

When I was 16 I lost my favorite player. The guy I looked up to and was inspired by. A couple weeks later my teammate lost his dad. Then three years later I lost my own teammate, the guy who made me feel like I belonged. Each time it was a punch in the gut no one saw coming. It felt unfair and cheap. They all were fighting these silent battles that no one knew anything about.
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As my playing career ended with a freak shoulder injury I found myself with a lack of identity. My whole life I was an athlete and in a moment that was taken away. I struggled as anxiety and panic attacks became frequent and I dealt with bouts of anxiety and depression. I didn't know how to express myself or tell others what was going on. I saw my vulnerability as a weakness, so I kept it hidden. I felt helpless and alone.
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Eventually, I had enough of feeling hopeless. I realized that the skills and tools that I learned through sport could be transferred to life. I rebuild my visualization, breathwork, and meditation practices to get more in my heart and less in my head. I gained as much knowledge I could about the practices and surrounded myself with teachers and mentors. I took my pain and my struggle and gave it purpose.
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Today I teach High School athletes these skills to make them more holistic individuals. These skills benefit us beyond just our playing career and help us in our careers or wherever we go post sport. These are skills to benefit our mental health and prevent suicide and allow us to impact lives in whatever we pursue in life.
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When we build better athletes, we build better Men and in turn a Better Society.