10/26/2026
Grateful for the opportunity to speak at my first coaches clinic, something I’ve wanted to do for a long time but never felt completely comfortable doing in front of my peers. Sometimes growth means stepping outside your comfort zone.
A huge thank you to Vald and Johnny for the opportunity to speak, Upward for hosting, and Blake and Connor for sharing their knowledge and experiences. Also, thank you to all the coaches who came out, invested their time, and continue to seek opportunities to learn and become better at what they do.
It’s a great reminder of how fortunate we are to have so many talented athletes and passionate performance coaches right here in the Midwest. There is a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience in the Kansas City area, and opportunities like this allow us to learn from one another and showcase the great work happening locally.
At the end of the day, we all share the same goal: doing what’s best for our athletes. That requires different methodologies, tools, and perspectives. If we want to continue raising the standard of sports performance in our area, we have to be willing to share our knowledge, challenge our own perspectives, and collaborate for the greater good of the athletes we serve.
Grateful to be part of a community that continues to learn, grow, and push this field forward.
Better coaches. Better collaboration. Better opportunities for our athletes.
VALD Performance
Johnny Herrera
Upward Performance & Physical Therapy
Blake Desselle
Connor Jonas, PT, DPT
