2025 Grid League Rookies to Watch

The United Grid League’s 2025 season brings an impressive class of rookies with diverse athletic backgrounds. From Olympians to CrossFit champions, these first-year Grid athletes are set to make an immediate impact on their teams.

Dan Tai – Tampa Bay Brigade

Dan Tai joins the Tampa Bay Brigade as a Utility player after transitioning from professional rugby. The UK native became one of Britain’s top CrossFit athletes following his rugby retirement in 2017, even competing at the 2023 CrossFit Games on a team. His explosive power and speed from rugby make him ideal for Grid’s fast-paced races. Tai’s versatility across both bodyweight and barbell movements allows him to adapt quickly between different race elements – a key skill for his Utility role.

Kelsey Kiel – Sharks

A five-time CrossFit Games athlete, Kelsey Kiel brings her impressive strength to the Sharks. Her athletic journey began with college soccer before finding success in CrossFit team competitions, including an 11th-place finish with Team OBA in 2022. With a 265-pound clean & jerk, Kiel’s raw strength will be a major asset on the Grid. Off the competition floor, she maintains an upbeat “just be a nice person” mantra and works as a nutrition coach, bringing both physical talent and positive energy to her new team.

Wes Kitts – Las Vegas Venom

Two-time Olympian Wes Kitts is perhaps the most decorated athlete in this rookie class. The former Division I football running back (with over 1,100 rushing yards at Austin Peay) transitioned to Olympic weightlifting, where he placed 8th at both the Tokyo and Paris Games. He also won gold at the 2019 Pan American Games and holds multiple American weightlifting records. Kitts will serve as a heavy lifting specialist for the Venom, moving massive weights at speeds few can match. He dedicated his second Olympic appearance to his late father’s memory and now competes as a new dad himself.

Colten Mertens – Houston Bandits

Colten Mertens arrives at the Houston Bandits with serious CrossFit credentials, having won the 2025 CrossFit Open outright. The three-time CrossFit Games individual athlete trains alone in a barn gym on his Iowa pig farm, earning him the nickname “The Iron Hog.” In one Open event, he amassed an incredible 361 reps when the scorecard didn’t even go that high. Mertens excels at high-rep, high-intensity challenges, often completing movements unbroken where others falter. His compact size makes him exceptional at bodyweight movements, and he’s shown remarkable resilience by overcoming a serious auto-immune health scare in 2023.

Michelle Basnett – Las Vegas Venom

South African-born Michelle Basnett joins the Las Vegas Venom after twice winning the CrossFit Africa Semifinal to reach the Games in 2021 and 2023. At the 2023 Games, she placed 37th worldwide. Her athletic foundation in competitive cheerleading gives her exceptional body control and gymnastics skills to complement impressive strength numbers: 315 lb back squat, 250 lb clean & jerk, and 205 lb snatch. Basnett balances her elite training with careers in real estate and coaching, embodying the “everyday athlete” who excels both in business and on the competition floor.

Chris Matos – Sharks

Chris Matos brings elite strongman experience to the Sharks. Despite his 6′ 250+ lb frame, teammates describe him as “lightning-fast” and surprisingly agile. Matos will serve as a Strength Specialist while proudly representing his Puerto Rican heritage in the sport. His experience hoisting atlas stones and pressing giant logs overhead translates well to Grid’s strength elements. Beyond competing, Matos has worked as a media coordinator in the Strongman community, showing leadership qualities that will benefit his new team.

Taylor Krippner – Houston Bandits

Former elite gymnast Taylor Krippner competed for Auburn University’s NCAA team on vault, bars, and beam all four years. Once an Olympic hopeful in her junior career, Krippner joins the Houston Bandits bringing technical precision to bodyweight movements. Now a Registered Dietitian specializing in training gymnasts (known online as “The Gymnastics Dietitian”), her 5’1″ frame and lifelong gymnastics training give her an edge in movements requiring balance and control. Krippner balanced her SEC gymnastics career with earning her nutrition degree, showing the same discipline she’ll bring to Grid competitions.

Loredana Niroda – South Beach Palms

Romanian-born Loredana Niroda brings international flair to the South Beach Palms as their female Bodyweight Specialist. A former junior Olympic team member with multiple national and international medals, Niroda made Romania’s national team by age 11 before health issues forced her retirement from elite gymnastics. Now 29, she’s been coaching gymnastics in Dubai since 2016 while developing strength skills to complement her technical expertise. Niroda performs high-skill movements like ring traverses, handstand push-ups, and backflips with ease and precision, making her invaluable during bodyweight-focused Grid races.

The influx of talent from various athletic backgrounds highlights the Grid League’s unique ability to showcase athletes from different sports. With the season approaching, fans can look forward to seeing these rookies adapt their specialized skills to the fast-paced Grid format.

Have a question? Email us: staff@unitedgridleague.com

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