Get to Know Grid League Players - Plate Stack Chat with Jason CF Media

Taylar Stallings is a seasoned Grid League coach and strength specialist for the Orlando Aces. She started with the DC Brawlers in the National Pro Grid League, where she earned MVP. Taylar focuses on both discipline and unity for her team, reminding them, “You’re on the team for a reason—do your job.” Known for her strict approach, she believes in holding everyone accountable and balancing the team’s different skills. Her experience and leadership shape much of the team’s competitive edge.

Ryan DeMattie is a strength specialist and reigning MVP who brings what he calls “Full send energy.” He mentions his background in football and his passion for lifting heavy weights, which makes him well-suited to the power-focused roles on the team. In his rookie year, he faced challenges, like cramping during a relay event, but learned to manage his energy and improve over time. Ryan is dedicated to making progress and takes on the tough physical demands with enthusiasm.

Jazmin Simpson has a background in gymnastics, competitive cheerleading, and CrossFit. She is also a co-owner of NewBody Fitness. Jazmin takes her role seriously, saying, “When you go out the house, you represent this family. Don’t make us look crazy.” She prepares meticulously and appreciates both the structure and teamwork of the Aces. Jazmin is open about her rookie challenges, including dealing with a mismatched jersey in her first match. She embraces every role and looks forward to contributing more.

Taylor Sturgis, another utility player, is a CrossFit affiliate owner. He has competed at semi-finals as both an individual and on a team and brings versatility to the Aces. Taylor uses his platform to share his fitness journey and has built a strong community at his affiliate gym. He finds motivation in the team dynamics and support from teammates, saying that the Orlando Aces feel like family.

Amanda Fisher, introduced as the 2023 Utility Player of the Year, has a strong background in competitive fitness. She’s participated in CrossFit semifinals in 2021 and 2022 with a team, and as an individual in 2023. While discussing her role on Atlanta Wild, Amanda talks about her versatile contributions to the team, often stepping in for various types of races and adapting to different needs. Reflecting on her role, she mentions, “Maybe I have to start being meaner,” in response to teammates joking that her friendly demeanor might prevent her from holding others to tough standards. Outside of Grid League, she manages a gym and balances the challenges of coaching and competing.

Sidney Wilson began her fitness journey with CrossFit but shifted her focus toward strength training, ultimately competing in bodybuilding alongside her role in Grid League. She recently featured in a mini-documentary on the Grid League channel, where she shares her journey and unique approach to fitness. Known for her strong personality and competitive spirit, Sidney is protective of her personal space, quipping, “If you ever see me running, you should probably start running too.” 

Vilma Rosario is a well-regarded athlete and coach with a high-level CrossFit Level 3 certification, highlighting her expertise and dedication to fitness. As both a competitor and coach, she brings technical knowledge and leadership to her Grid League team, Atlanta Wild. Vilma appreciates the camaraderie in the league, mentioning that many athletes are friends across teams, creating a supportive community beyond competition. She also balances her work life and training, which she admits can be challenging but is essential for achieving her goals in Grid League.

Chelsea Raineri is a former college gymnast who competed at George Washington University. She talks about her journey from gymnastics to Grid League, where she serves as a bodyweight specialist. Chelsea emphasizes her love for gymnastics, a sport she was deeply committed to for years, and shares how it shaped her skills in Grid League. She reflects on the discipline it took to train intensely from a young age, saying, “Do you know what I had to go through to get to where I am now?” Chelsea also teaches high school sports medicine, health, and physical education, which includes working with specialized students, a role she finds fulfilling. She values the community aspect of the Grid League and appreciates the unique camaraderie on her team. She’s also lighthearted and personable with fans, responding to questions with humor and sharing her genuine enjoyment of both competing and connecting with others.

Roderick Holloway is a bodyweight and strength athlete for the Grid League. He has a background that combines efficient technique with physical power and shares that he values precision in his training, commenting, “I’m not brute strong; I just have good technique.” Roderick acknowledges his team’s versatility and discusses how the team dynamic requires everyone to be adaptable and quick under pressure. He notes that his ability to switch roles when teammates miss a movement is key, describing himself as a “utility player” capable of covering for others. Outside of the league, Roderick lives in Minnesota and connects with his team remotely, yet he feels a close bond with them, highlighting that Grid League has given him meaningful friendships across different regions. 

Marissa Oxenford is a utility player for the Tampa Bay Brigade and also owns Redemption Physical Therapy. She has done CrossFit for 10 years and has a lot of experience in fitness. Marissa likes that Grid is fast-paced and full of teamwork, which is different from CrossFit. She enjoys the strategy involved, like finding ways to do movements faster and more efficiently within the sport’s specific rules. Her background in physical therapy helps her understand the physical demands of Grid, and she sees injuries as part of any serious sport. “It’s a sport like any other… there’s injury in football too but we all love football,” she says, showing her appreciation for what Grid requires from athletes.

Chris Cioffi is a bodyweight specialist and is known for his gymnastics skills, often working on rings or bars. He’s all about precision and finding little ways to save time within Grid’s rules. Chris doesn’t take social media criticism too seriously and adds humor when he responds: “I save two seconds a rep when I do it that way… they can continue to play video games in their basement.” He especially likes races where he can team up with others and enjoys the teamwork side of Grid.

Artur Cabral, a rookie in Grid League but an experienced CrossFit level two trainer, joined the South Beach Palms this season. This year marks his sixth CrossFit Open, where he ranked 209th in South America. Artur, who stands at 6’5″ and is the tallest player in Grid League. He mentioned how his height is both an advantage and challenge, explaining, “I don’t even need to jump,” in certain moves like the burpee-to-rings. Artur expressed excitement about contributing to the Grid League’s growth and has been optimistic about encouraging interest in the sport in his home country, Brazil.

Brielle Macchiarelli, a veteran in Grid League, recently moved to the South Beach Palms after spending six seasons with the Lions. While she’s embraced the change, she maintains a strong bond with her former teammates, sharing that “there are no hard feelings” and they’re all still close. She loves the “mirror” races, where two athletes work simultaneously in synchronization, as well as the unique challenges Grid League brings, like the back-handspring relay. Brielle also enjoys balancing her Grid League role with her regular CrossFit classes, though she often adds in specific movement training for Grid races.

Jaime Gold is the head coach of the Fort Lauderdale Lions in the Grid League and a physical therapist, owning a clinic called “The Box Doc.” Her dual roles allow her to push her team in training and also handle their recovery needs. She describes the Grid League as “organized chaos” and is open to bringing on additional coaches for support, highlighting her team-oriented approach. Outside of Grid, Jaime is a CrossFit athlete and often talks about the importance of tailored care for athletes. She explains that many clients come to her with limiting advice from doctors, but she believes, “Our job is to help you do whatever it is that you want to do.” Jaime also speaks about the importance of community in the sport.

Eric Cardona is a firefighter-paramedic and a competitive athlete in both CrossFit and the Grid League. He has competed in the CrossFit Games and holds a CrossFit Level 2 certification. His strong competitive drive is evident when he shares that his former rival, Paula Leyes, joined his team, saying with humor, “That’s what you do, you just bring over your rivals.” In his day-to-day life, he balances a physically demanding job as a first responder with his athletic pursuits, often working around tight schedules to train and compete.

Vida Vetterkind, a U.S. Army veteran and CrossFit Level 1 coach, is now in her third season with the Palm Beach Breakers. Officially a utility player, Vida leans toward strength-based roles in the Grid League but values the flexibility her position offers.  She speaks about the challenges of the unpredictable “ringer point” race, where players find out their specific event just before competing, admitting the pressure but showing readiness to tackle it. In her daily training, Vida balances her strength work to meet the demands of a utility player and prepares for unexpected challenges. She also receives support from her family and friends.

Bethany Jackson, a CrossFit Level 1 coach and second year player with the Palm Beach Breakers, talks about the learning curve of playing in Grid League. With a focus on gymnastics skills, she spends much of her training time on EMOMs (Every Minute on the Minute) and high-rep exercises to build endurance for the league’s demanding events. Discussing her training, Bethany notes the difference in standards between CrossFit and Grid League, emphasizing the need to maintain quality in each rep. She is also focused on her role as a coach, where she enjoys helping her members progress safely and might one day pursue a Level 3 certification.