Meet our Team

Meet our TEAM

Julian LoCasto (Director of Nutrition, Head Coach) (B.S., CPPS, AAPS, ISSA, PN-1)
- Hometown: Woodland Park, NJ
- Director of Nutrition and Head Coach at Challenger Strength.
- Challenger Strength's longest tenured coach, working with us since 2018.
- Head coach, helping Gerry oversee the continually growing staff at Challenger.
- Julian has: a B.S.B in Biology from Caldwell University, ISSA Personal Trainer Cert, PN Level 1 Nutritional Cert, and also has both his CPPS and APPS
- Played basketball and lacrosse at the high school and collegiate level.
- Fun Fact: Julian spent five years working as a physical therapy aid and STILL boasts a 35 inch vertical jump.

Sean Gibney (Strength Coach) (B.A.) (NASM)
- Hometown Rutherford, NJ
- Sean has been a strength coach at Challenger Strength since 2019.
- Sean has primarily served at our Kenilworth location and has helped build our team and private training culture.
- Sean was an all NJIC baseball player at St. Mary's in 2014 before enjoying a 5 year baseball career at NJCU, serving as team captain in 2018 and 2019.
- He received a Bachelors of Arts Degree in History in 2019 while also becoming a NASM certified strength and conditioning coach.
- Fun Fact: Sean was a member of the 2011 St. Mary's Rutherford baseball team that devastated and beat Gerry's Oratory Prep Rams in the NJ State Semi-Finals.

Katie Kerr (Strength Coach) (B.S. Kinesiology) (CPPS)
- Hometown: Ringwood, NJ
- Katie has been a strength coach at Challenger Strength since 2022 and is the leader in facilitating our growing population of strength and conditioning with female athletes. She also is involved in assisting in our hockey team training for all levels.
- Katie has her Bachelor of Science in Fitness Development and Kinesiology from SUNY Cortland.
- Katie was a competitive figure skater for eight years and also played ice hockey at SUNY Cortland.
- In 2023, Katie completed her certified physical preparation specialist certification (CPPS) as well as completing NYU's Fundamentals of Global Sports Management Certificate.
- Fun Fact: Katie has been to Disney World over ten times, and considers herself an aficionado of Disney Park Trivia!

Tiffany Tencza, (Strength Coach) (CPPS)
- Hometown: Wallington, NJ
- Tiffany has been a strength and conditioning coach at Challenger Strength since November 2022.
- Tiffany graduated from Wallington High School in 2013.
-Tiffany is a Black Belt in Shotokan Karate and played three varsity sports in high school: soccer, basketball and track.
- In 2023, Tiffany completed her certified physical preparation specialist certification (CPPS).
- Fun Fact: Tiffany is a licensed barber and cuts hair part time in addition to working at Challenger. She is also the personal barber of our very own Julian Lo Casto!

Michael Leon, (Strength Coach) (B.S. Exercise Science) (CFSC)
- Hometown: Bergenfield, NJ
- Mike has been a strength and conditioning coach at Challenger Strength since April 2024.
- Mike graduated from River Dell high school where he also played baseball.
Other Occupation: In addition to his part time coaching role at Challenger, Mike is a Full Time Exercise Specialist and Physiologist at The Valley Hospital.
- While attending Rowan University, Mike played Rugby and earned his degree in Exercise Science.
- Fun Fact: Mike enjoys spending time with his family and spending the weekend outside hiking and running with his Australian Shepherd, Koda, as his training partner.

Chris La Stella, (Strength Coach) (B.S. Exercise Science) (M.S. Athletic Training) (LAT)
- Hometown: Eatontown, NJ
- Chris has been a strength and conditioning coach at Challenger Strength since August 2024.
- Chris graduated from Monmouth Regional High School before completing his undergraduate degree at University of Delaware. After, he completed his graduate degree at Seton Hall University.
Other Occupation: In addition to his part time coaching role at Challenger, Chris is the full time Athletic Trainer at Oratory Preparatory School.
- Chris grew up playing soccer and baseball which inspired his desire to work with athletes as an athletic trainer.
- Fun Fact: Chris is the current athletic trainer at Gerry's alma mater (Oratory Preparatory School).

Jose Torrealba (Strength Coach) (B.S. Exercise Science) (A.A.S. in Paramedic Science) (CPPS)
- Hometown: West New York, NJ
- Jose has been a strength and conditioning coach at Challenger Strength since January 2025.
- Graduated from Memorial High School, Attended Hudson County Community College and then earned his B.S. in Exercise Science from New Jersey City University.
- In addition to his coaching role at Challenger, Jose is a full time Paramedic with Atlantic Mobile Health and a per diem Paramedic Preceptor with Jersey City Medical Center.
- Fun Fact: Jose loves spending time with his family and plays softball during his free time. He played baseball and football throughout high school and has an uncanny ability to remember everyone's birthday!

Tyler Salazar (Strength Coach) (B.S. Exercise Science) (CPR Certified)
- Hometown: Vernon, NJ
- Attended Vernon Township High School before receiving his degree in Exercise Science from William Paterson University.
- In addition to his coaching role at Challenger, Tyler works at GNC.
- Fun fact: Tyler is learning how to do tattoos in his free time.

Nick Vaughn (Strength Coach) (B.S. Exercise Science) (M.S.)
- Hometown: Ocean Township, NJ
- Attended Ocean Township High School before accepting an opportunity to play baseball at New Jersey City University in 2022 where he then completed his Bachelor's Degree in Exercise Science.
- Is currently completing his masters in clinical counseling and one day aspires to have his own facility and practice to offer an holistic approach to improving both the mind and body!
- In addition to his coaching role at Challenger, Nick is finishing his last year of collegiate baseball at NJCU (2026 spring season) and also fills hours working at a local sports bar and restaurant.
- Fun fact: He is learning how to bartend. Nick has been known to absolutely tenderize the guitar. In his own words, he can "play you a solo of ANYTHING."