Our Team
Dakota DiPaola
Taylor Heppner
MS, LMT, CSCS | Owner
Taylor Heppner is a PhD Candidate in Health Science, Human & Sport Performance at Rocky Mountain University. She holds a Master’s degree in Sport Management (High Performance Coaching) from the University of Florida and a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from Washington State University. In addition to her academic achievements, Taylor has earned several industry-leading certifications, including Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), EXOS Performance Specialist (XPS), Functional Range Conditioning Movement Specialist (FRCms), USA Weightlifting Level 1 Coach, DBC Levels 1 & 2 (Human Movement, Biomechanics, and Assessment), FMS Level 1, and Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT).
Her diverse athletic background—spanning ski racing, rowing, and softball—shapes her holistic, athlete-first approach to performance. Professionally, Taylor has worked in integrated performance and healthcare settings, supporting athletes across every level of sport. Her experience includes return-to-play and performance programming for collegiate athletes, MLB preseason and return-to-sport initiatives, NFL and NBA off-season training, and extensive work with snow sport athletes.
Taylor is widely recognized for her ability to bridge the worlds of performance and medicine, uniting science, coaching, and care to help athletes not only recover but truly excel. Her approach reflects both elite expertise and a deep, personal connection to the athlete’s experience.
Cristian Pelayo
CPT | Owner
Coach Cristian Pelayo, known to many as CP, brings extensive experience in speed development and sports performance, having trained athletes of all levels—from young beginners as early as age seven to collegiate and professional competitors—across a wide range of sports. A former multi-sport athlete himself, Cristian continued his athletic journey at the collegiate level in soccer, which opened doors to compete professionally overseas in Germany, Ireland, Spain, and Serbia.
With years of hands-on experience, Cristian has dedicated his career to helping athletes become faster, stronger, and more explosive while mentoring and empowering them to reach their highest potential. He has a proven track record of guiding athletes through injury recovery and facilitating their safe return to sport in collaboration with healthcare providers, coaches, and families.
Cristian’s coaching philosophy extends beyond physical development—he emphasizes building a positive, supportive, and disciplined environment where every athlete can thrive both on and off the field.
CPT | Part-Time Movement & Performance Coach
Dakota DiPaola obtained her BS in Cellular, Molecular, and Developmental Biology with a Chemistry minor, graduating magna cum laude from Colorado Mesa University. Her education provided a strong foundation in human physiology, biomechanics, injury prevention, and performance optimization. Additionally, she strengthened her sports medicine expertise through hands-on experience working alongside athletic trainers, physicians, and rehabilitation professionals as part of Colorado Mesa University's Sports Medicine Program and Athletic Training Department. To expand her background in pain management strategies, Dakota participated in the 2025 Summer Undergraduate Research Program at UT Health San Antonio, where she studied non-neuronal cell markers in temporomandibular joint disorders. Throughout this internship she developed a strong background in scientific research, networking, and public speaking. Beyond sports medicine, Dakota has extensive clinical and research experience, including work in neuroscience, antidepressant-related pain research, cardiovascular cadaver research, certified nursing assistant care, phlebotomy, and athletic training. Her background allows her to bridge the gap between athletic performance and evidence-based training principles to help athletes improve strength, speed, power, mobility, and resilience while reducing injury risk. Dakota will work as a sports performance trainer while applying to medical school to become a sports medicine or pain management and rehabilitation physician.
During her undergraduate degree she competed as a collegiate softball player as a middle infielder and outfielder while earning numerous academic and athletic honors including the Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete Award and the NCAA Division II Athletic Directors Association (ADA) Academic Achievement Award. Growing up as a multi-sport athlete, Dakota competed in softball, track and field, and basketball, which developed her understanding of athletic performance across a variety of movement demands. As a coach, Dakota is passionate about developing well-rounded athletes both on and off the field. She emphasizes discipline, confidence, work ethic, and long-term athletic development, drawing from her experience as a collegiate student-athlete. Her goal is to empower athletes to perform at their highest level while building habits that support lifelong health and success.