THUNDERCAT
Sports Academy
THUNDERCAT STAFF
*To get in contact with a staff member, click/press their name*
Collin McBride - Owner
With a background in biomechanics, Collin oversees the hitting, performance training and off-season throwing programs. McBride, a native of Waterloo, attended Lakeside Lutheran High School in Lake Mills, WI. He continued his baseball career at the collegiate level for Northwestern College (IA), where he met Co-Owner Charles Davis, and graduated with a degree in Exercise Science/Strength and Conditioning in 2017. From 2019-2021, McBride served on the College of Central Florida staff as the Strength and Conditioning/Hitting Coach. In January 2022, Collin was a Low-A Hitting Coach position for the Down East Wood Ducks in the Texas Rangers organization.
In December 2022, Collin accepted a Minor League Hitting Coach position in the Minnesota Twins organization for the 2023 season.
Charles Davis - Owner
Originally from Simi Valley, California, Charles attended and played baseball at Bishop Alemany High School in Mission Hills, California. After High School, Davis attended Northwestern College (IA) to continue his baseball career and degree. In 2015, he ranked #13 in the NAIA for batters struck out per 9 innings (11.48). In May 2017, Davis graduated from Northwestern College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sport Management and a minor in Business Administration. In the summer of 2017, he started his professional baseball career in the Pecos League of Professional Baseball with the Bakersfield Train Robbers(California). At the end of his first year of professional baseball, he recorded a 2.50 ERA, 25 IP, and 44 Ks and earned the closer role. In 2018, Charles signed a professional contract with the Lake Erie Crushers(Ohio) of the Frontier League.
In 2021, Charles launched the Dairyland Collegiate League, which is a wood bat collegiate summer baseball league that consists of current collegiate baseball players and college coaches from all across the world.
Jonny Rivera - Director of Operations/15u Baseball
Jonny is the Director of Operations, hitting instructor, and college recruiting coordinator for the high school teams. Rivera, originally from Lowell, Indiana, was an assistant coach at UW-Parkside (Wisconsin). Rivera is Driveline pitching and hitting certified. Previously, Rivera worked as an assistant coach for Hanover Central High School (Cedar Lake, IN) until the Covid-19 pandemic shut down the 2020 season. In the summer of 2022, Rivera managed the Waukesha Foxes of the Dairyland Collegiate League.
Rivera obtained an MBA in Sports Management with Concordia University of Chicago. He graduated from Lakeland University in the Summer of 2019 with a Bachelor’s degree in Communication and four years of collegiate baseball experience with the Muskies.
Grace Delleman - Softball Director
Grace is the Softball Director, hitting and outfield instructor, and 18u Softball Coach. From La Grange, Illinois, Grace grew up playing softball on both school and travel teams. Upon graduating from Lyons Township High School, she attended Edgewood College where she received her degree in Elementary Education. During her time at Edgewood, Delleman competed in the NACC at the NCAA DIII level where she was a four-year starter and standout for the Eagles. Having completed her career in 2019, Delleman remains ranked in the top-15 in multiple offensive categories; her 17 career home runs are tied for the third-most in Edgewood program history.
Grace has spent five years working with athletes individually and as a head travel ball coach at the 14U, 16U & 18U level.
Eric Nelson - Sports Performance Coach
For the Thundercats, Eric is the Sports Performance Coach. Nelson is from DeKalb, Illinois where he played baseball for DeKalb High School. He came up to Wisconsin to play college baseball at Edgewood College in Madison. Eric pitched for Edgewood College from the 2019 season through the 2022 season. In his first three years on the mound for the Eagles, Eric was the closer before becoming a starter in his last season. In 2021 he recorded three saves and pitched to the second all-time in strikeouts per nine innings (12.65) in a single season.
Eric graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biology and is currently working on becoming a certified strength and condition specialist.
Fernando Gutierrez - Baseball Coach
Fernando Gutierrez is a fielding and hitting instructor. Fernando is also fluent in Spanish.
Originally from Fresno, California, Gutierrez went to Tranquility High School and attended West Hills College (NJCAA) in Coalinga, Ca. He then continued his baseball career at Northwestern College (IA) and graduated with a bachelor's degree in athletic training. In the summer of 2017, he signed a contract to play professional baseball for the Centinelas de Mexicali (Mexico). In 2020, Fernando graduated with his Masters in Athletic Training. Currently, he is a certified athletic trainer for Mission Oak High School. At Mission Oak High School, he helps cover a total of 6 sports (including baseball).
Kiersten Birr - 14u Softball
Originally from Sauk City, Wisconsin, Kiersten Birr graduated from Sauk Prairie High School. Growing up and all the way through high school, Kiersten learned to play softball and loved catching. After high school, she attended UW-LaCrosse for a year and then transferred to UW-Platteville to finish her degree. She graduated from UW-Platteville with a degree in Elementary Education. While at UW-Platteville, she played four years of softball in the outfield.
In 2015, Kiersten started coaching softball at the high school level as an assistant coach. She also started coaching summer rec for the high school the same year and has been doing so ever since. In 2017, she became co-head softball coach at Fall River High School.
Victor Christianson - 14u Baseball
Victor is a recent graduate from Cambridge High School and is attending Viterbo University in Lacrosse. Victor will be a part of their baseball program, where he hopes to learn even more about coaching and managing a roster of 20+ players. Once his 2024 spring college season is over, he will be returning to his hometown of Stoughton, WI to continue coaching with the Thundercats 14u Team.
Ashley Nelson - Softball Coach
Ashley is from Dekalb, IL. She is going into her senior season at Wartburg College where she appeared in 80 games over the three years as a Knight.
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Eric Schuchardt - Softball Coach