Meet Your Coaches
Introducing Ourselves!
Bryant Illenberg
Coach & Owner
Meet Bryant Illenberg, an exceptional weightlifter whose passion for the sport has been flourishing since 2014! His athletic journey began with Division 3 Football at SUNY Morrisville, where he explored Sports Nutrition & Fitness Management. However, it was in Olympic Weightlifting that Bryant discovered his true passion, achieving impressive milestones along the way. As a multiple-time National qualifier and a certified USAW National Coach and Instructor he not only competed but also inspires others, coaching athletes to and medal at the National level. With impressive lifts like a 137/lb Snatch and a 170/374lb Clean & Jerk, Bryant is a true force in the weightlifting community!
Amiee Lazar
Coach & Owner
Amiee's journey in weightlifting began with CrossFit, and once she picked up a barbell, there was no turning back. As a National Level Coach, she has been a key figure since the inception of our team, contributing to everything from naming the team to establishing our facility. Her passion for the technical aspects of coaching is evident, as she finds immense satisfaction in teaching efficient barbell movements. Beyond being a mentor to our Youth Team, she embodies the role of a "Mom" to all, demonstrating unparalleled commitment to coaching everyone from beginners to advanced National athletes. Amiee believes in the importance of continuous learning and actively expands her knowledge to share with our athletes; Gryphon Strength Barbell would not exist without her.
Tom Smalley, MS, CMPC
Team Mental Performance Consultant
Tom is the founder of Struggle into Strength Performance and a Certified Mental Performance Consultant through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology. With a background spanning youth to professional athletes, Tom equips our team with tools to sharpen focus, build confidence, manage stress, and recover with resilience. His expertise ensures that Gryphon athletes develop not only physical strength but also the mental edge to perform at their best.
Cedars Nutrition
Alexa Mina, Nutrition Specialist
Team Nutrition Coaches
Cedars Nutrition is a performance‑driven nutrition coaching company led by Alexa Mina, an experienced coach and international weightlifter who has worked with athletes across Team USA, Team Canada, and multiple Olympians. Their approach centers on individualized, sustainable strategies—no extremes, no fads—using detailed weekly check‑ins, food log analysis, and habit tracking to help clients fuel training, optimize body composition, and build long‑term confidence. Cedars Nutrition is known for its athlete‑focused expertise, especially in weightlifting and safe, ethical weight‑cutting, making them a powerful partner for anyone serious about performance and longevity.
