Meet the Team
Like many small businesses, it’s our staff that bring our space to life. MW Climbing was hand built from the ground up and we couldn’t be prouder to call these people members of our team.
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CEO & Routesetter
Having never been involved in sports her entire life, Wendy was truly surprised that she fell in love with climbing. She tried climbing for the first time during college and it transformed her mindset. For her, climbing is about continual self-improvement through creative problem solving. It has helped her build confidence, strength, and discipline in her life.
Before starting MW, she studied biochemistry, psychology, math, & chemistry as an undergrad and earned her Master’s degree in behavioral neuropsychopharmacology. As a research scientist, she published 9 peer-reviewed articles, wrote an internationally acclaimed open-source book on programming in R, earned a departmental teaching award for her research mentorship, and taught as a statistics professor at Doane University.
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Founder, Routesetter, & Coach
Matt began climbing during his studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2014 and you can often spot his signature look: cardigan/sweater and climbing pants. Although he enjoys all types of climbing, he is known in the Nebraska climbing community for his particular affinity to bouldering.
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Head Routesetter & Manager
Growing up, Bryce was always terrified of heights. It wasn't until the early part of his college life that he was convinced by some friends to give climbing a try, and he quickly became obsessed with the sport. Bryce completed his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Bryce loves the problem solving aspect of climbing. As a route setter, he strives to set enticing routes for all to enjoy, challenge themselves on, and fall off of. Outside of school and climbing, he also enjoys coffee, puzzles, and pushing himself physically and creatively.
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Programs Director, Head Coach, & Routesetter
Rhianna started climbing early into her college career and fell in love with the sport very quickly, despite initially being afraid of heights. She liked how it challenged her both physically and mentally, while also loving the community she became a part of. She graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with degrees in Environmental Studies and English and is passionate about protecting the environment. Rhianna loves working with other people and helping all kinds of climbers in their climbing journey. In her free time, she enjoys biking, playing with cats, and being a plant mom.
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Head Routesetter & Manager
Not proficient in any sports, Zoe’s dad signed her up for rock climbing when she was 12. She was immediately hooked, because there was very little coordination involved (in the beginning). Now, she climbs casually, still lacking coordination.
Zoe has passion for teaching, coaching, plants, and routesetting. She plans on also going back to school to finish Firefighting/Paramedic at Metropolitan Comm. College.
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Outreach Coordinator & Youth Coach
When Mya found climbing they fell in love with not only the sport itself, but the community around it. With years working as a freelance show choir choreographer they liked exploring movement and space and found climbing to suit those interests while pushing them mentally to try their hardest and overcome the mental block of a fear of heights. They recently graduated from Doane University with a degree in Music Education and intend to teach middle or high school choir and show choir in the fall.
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Routesetter
Ricardo is the king of dynamic movement. Having started climbing as a student at UNL, he’s continued on his passion for climbing at MW.
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Routesetter & Youth Coach
Amara has been climbing since 2011, at 5 years old, and now she is completely obsessed. She has been competing since 2015, both locally and nationally. Since Amara has spend over 2/3rds of her life climbing she is very familiar with helping new climbers learn the sport and set fun routes. Outside of climbing she enjoys spending time with friends, being outside, and school.
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Routesetter
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Customer Service
Novice to the sport of bouldering, Andrew found his way into the climbing community while reconnecting with friends. A Veteran, Andrew served over 7 years as a Hospital Corpsman with the US Navy and Marine Corps. He accounts his time spent with the Marine Corps as a platoon Corpsman to be the most character-building experience of his life. After being honorably discharged in 2016 Andrew worked as a cook/barista and remodeled residential homes while pursuing a life of astronomy and building energy scavenging devices. In his free time Andrew loves watching Rupaul’s Drag Race and can be found learning about new foods and cuisines or is hiking with his Siberian Husky and German Shepard.
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Customer Service
Emma loved to exercise but she could never find anything that fit her, until climbing. She was immediately hooked and has been climbing casually ever since. Emma is currently studying as a psychology student at UNL. Her hobbies include drinking way too much coffee and not eating gluten. Emma also loves animals and has two cats, a leopard gecko, a crested gecko, and a ball python.
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Customer Service
Ever since he was young, Camden has always had an interest in rock climbing but never fully got into it until his sophomore year of high school when he found MW. He instantly became obsessed with the sport and started climbing everyday, falling in love with both bouldering and lead climbing. Outside of climbing, Camden’s favorite activities are shredding powder on skis in the winter, mountain biking and long boarding in the summer, and playing the piano. After high school, Camden hopes to go to med school along with getting better at skiing and rock climbing.
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Yoga Instructor
Shannon has always loved all forms of movement, and eventually fell in love with climbing and yoga in 2011. Shannon is a registered yoga teacher certified in Vinyasa and Power Yoga methodologies and has a passion for fun, high-energy, alignment, and mobility focused yoga classes. As a 9-5 desk job warrior, her goal is to help counteract the degradation caused by our stationary lifestyles through movement, breathwork, strength, and mobility to improve your quality of life, and hopefully help you add some new beta for that problem you're projecting! Besides the physicality of both yoga and climbing, it's truly the welcoming communities that she loves most! She is excited to be joining the MW community and looks forward to meeting everyone in a class or in the gym!
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Customer Service
Growing up I played nearly every sport I could and thought tennis and soccer were my favorites. I played one season of tennis for Nebraska Wesleyan my freshman year of college. Then later in life (later = 26 ) I found bouldering and have been obsessed ever since. Like many, I became addicted to the mental and physical workout. I am finishing a MSc in neurocognitive psychology from the Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg and plan to continue working in research after graduating. I have many other outdoor hobbies like fishing, snowboarding, and golfing, but my absolute favorite indoor hobby is watching horror movies!
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Customer Service
I was never into climbing, didn't even know it was a sport, until my doctor recommended as a way to increase bone density without lifting weights. After my doctor recommended it I took a rock climbing class at UNO and instantly fell in love with the sport and I've been involved ever since. Outside of rock climbing, I'm pursuing my degree in environmental science with a minor in chemistry because of my love for the outdoors. In addition to climbing, I love surfing, hiking, and really anything outside in general. I have also been a vegetarian since I was 7 after I watched Bambi and love video games!
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Customer Service
Emme began climbing in high school when a close family friend brought her along thinking it might suit her, she was right. She found that climbing fulfilled her love of heights and mental puzzles and was instantly hooked. Soon after, climbing and the community became a huge part of her life. Emme is studying aviation and psychology to graduate with her bachelor’s this year, and she hopes that adventure will always be a part of her career. Now, her time is filled with climbing, training and coaching ninja warrior, and trying to wrangle her sweet but crazy cat Nyx.
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Customer Service
I've always loved climbing things. I just didn't know how much until I discovered MW and the community. I immediately fell in love with both the sport, and especially the amazing people. I grew up in Nebraska and moved around a little bit. But, I eventually I found my way back to "the good life." Aside from Rock climbing, I enjoy jogging, hiking and all things outdoor related. I love animals, especially my dog, Daisy. My long-term goals include learning top rope and climbing in the mountains.
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Customer Service
Ever since he was young, Camden has always had an interest in rock climbing but never fully got into it until his sophomore year of high school when he found MW. He instantly became obsessed with the sport and started climbing everyday, falling in love with both bouldering and lead climbing. Outside of climbing, Camden’s favorite activities are shredding powder on skis in the winter, mountain biking and long boarding in the summer, and playing the piano. After high school, Camden hopes to go to med school along with getting better at skiing and rock climbing.
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Yoga Instructor
After 20 years in the mortgage industry and raising her 2 sons, Jenny veered away from corporate America and onto a path of health and wellness. She is now a certified yoga instructor and reiki master, offering modalities to help people feel better in their bodies and minds. She was thrilled to find an opportunity to teach yoga at MW Climbing where she can also revisit her longtime aspiration for bouldering.
Jenny enjoys painting, hiking and camping, spending time among trees and in the mountains whenever she can, and loves animals. She and her husband currently have one sweet and mischievous dog, Luna, aka “she who cannot be trusted”. They love to travel and have been to Norway, Spain, Ireland (where they were married!), Mexico, and Canada as well as numerous places in the continental US. Jenny hopes to always seize new opportunities for wander and adventure.
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Yoga Instructor
Maygon has been pursuing her passion for yoga for over 7 years. In 2020, she took training to become a teacher. Currently, she teaches at Blue Moon Fitness, Heart Space, Fitucate, privates, and is beyond excited to be adding MW Climbing to her weekly schedule.
Maygon isn’t a climber yet, but is thrilled to have the opportunity to learn with MW Climbing. She loves yoga because it gives safe space to slow down and still. This allows every yogi to check in and increase personal awareness of breath, body, mind, and heart. Yoga is for every body because it allows each individual to modify as needed from injuries, tightness, soreness, or how your body shows up for you on your mat. We show up in our body every day, but every day our body shows up differently than it did the day before.
Yoga and all physical practices are just that, a practice. We get to choose to continue to learn and grow and show up present with ourselves. Maygon’s hope within your practice of yoga is to walk through the world more present every day, increasing your mobility to enable you to do all the things you want to do as you become wiser with age.
While Maygon teaches linking body movement and breath, the a ha’s likely happen in the curiosity of subtle sensations and nuances in the body, but the critical element to any practice is fun. Working with wrists, hands, fingers, ankles, feet, and toes will likely improve overall mobility as well as your ability to climb. Look forward to seeing you soon!
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Customer Service
Growing up in small town Nebraska there wasn’t a lot to do so I went to sports to pass the time. I played every sport my school offered but out of the three sports I did in high school I credit wrestling as the reason I found a love for climbing. I first started climbing Freshman year at UNO and have fallen in love with it ever since. The way it strains the body is something I never experienced and still love it the more and more I climb.
I am studying to become a Real Estate Agent through my own free time, but have 3 years on my belt at UNO. My go to outdoor activities are snowboarding, swimming, hiking, and golfing. As for indoor, I'm big into video games.
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Customer Service
Stephen is an enthusiastic climber with a background in the U.S. Navy, where he gained valuable technical and teamwork skills. Currently pursuing a degree in Applied Psychology, he’s passionate about the mental and physical aspects of climbing. Stephen is excited to support others in their climbing journey and be a part of the gym’s vibrant community. When he’s not climbing, he enjoys exploring the outdoors and playing Magic: The Gathering.
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Customer Service
I was born in Okinawa, Japan, and soon after moved to the U.S. I’m a military kid who loves to travel and go outdoors which is why I quickly fell in love with this sport. The main reason why I stayed with climbing is because of a special someone from my chemistry class. When I got offered the job here at MW I immediately jumped to take it because I wouldn’t want to work anywhere else!
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Customer Service
Maddie got into climbing a little over a year ago and fell in love with it. At the time she was trying to find a way to work out without it feeling like a workout, and that’s what I found here at MW. Maddie loves to paint mostly abstract but sadly inspiration tends to strike less and less. Maddie does have a passion for baking and animals, she has a orange tabby cat, a lavender leopard gecko, and two dogs both mutts, man can she bake and talk about animals on a daily. Maddie also works as a teacher as her primary job; she absolutely loves it, the little bitties just melt her heart. Maddie plans to someday visit climbing gyms all over the world and maybe create one of her own with a bakery of course hah ha! Maddie will be around the gym from time to time give her a chat who knows maybe inspiration will strike.