2021 Jiu-Jitsu CON Novice International Champion 2021 Masters International IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Champion - North America 2022 European Jiu-Jitsu Champion 2022 New Orleans International Open IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Champion 2022 Pan IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship Runner-Up 2022 Houston International Open IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Champion 2022 Master International Jiu-Jitsu Championship - North America Runner-Up 2022 New Orleans Summer International Open IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Champion (Super Heavy) 2022 New Orleans Summer International Open IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Champion (Open Class).
Hello everyone, I am excited to be a part of the Be Better team and share my story with you. I am a California native, currently living and working in Ohio. I am currently employed by the Boy Scouts of America - Erie Shores Council overseeing two counties of Scouting operations and I attend the University of Toledo pursing a bachelors degree in University Studies. Some of my hobbies include racing dirt bikes (motorcycles), working out, reading, listening to the Be Better podcast, and designing 3-D items.
Kahlee has a quiet strength, self assurance, and kindness about her that drew me to her story. After competing on the sand for LSU Beach, she made the move to California to pursue a professional career on the beach. In addition to being an athlete, she has a passion for nutrition and wellness and has the desire and knowledge to educate and inspire others to incorporate good nutrition, hydration, and other wellness tools into their lives.
Evan Cory began his professional beach volleyball career in 2020 after graduating as an All-American from Lincoln Memorial University. During his first year in 2020, events were hampered by the COVID-19 outbreak, nevertheless Evan raised his national ranking from 247 to 97 with limited opportunity in tournaments. In 2021, his true rookie year on the AVP, he won 3 of the 4 AVP Next Gold Events across the country and qualified for 2 of the 3 AVP main draws. He finished with a career high 9th in the largest tournament in the United States, the Manhattan Beach Open. Evan once again raised his ranking drastically in 2021, as he went from being a fringe top 100 player to being a top 30 player on the AVP Tour. Outside of the statistics, Evan is recognizable by his blue nose and fiery attitude that is quickly making him a favorite amongst fans. During the offseason Evan has gotten plenty of extra opportunities to interact with fans across the country, as he has participated in many volleyball camps and trips which include the Better at Beach Volleyball Camps, South of the Border Vacations, and Volleyball Vacations.
After competing both indoor and on the beach for UCLA, Savvy made a huge impression in her first year as a professional in 2021. Even though her athleticism is incredible to watch, her blend of tenacity as an athlete and sensitivity as a human has made her a joy to get to know. Her willingness to be transparent and share her story, which includes an understanding of what it means to live with anxiety, makes her an even more compelling and relatable athlete to watch in the years to come.
Her stoic instincts on the sand are on point and her fundamentals are solid. Watching Kristen compete and win in her first season as a pro was even more exciting because of the opportunity I had to get to know her off the court. Her no nonsense approach and ability to show up for herself and her partner and control what she can control is an amazing thing to watch. Whether an aspiring athlete is 5’6 like she is, or 6’5 like her partner Taryn, her athleticism and mindset are worthy of taking notes. She is a champion on and off the court.
Taryn is a fierce competitor with a gentle and fun loving soul that drew me in immediately when we met in Louisiana in the summer of 2021. She was a multiple sport athlete growing up in South Dakota, had an indoor collegiate career at Creighton University and only made the transition to the beach in 2020. Her work ethic and positivity are elements to her personality that I love and even with an AVP Championship under her belt, alongside partner Kristen Nuss, in her first season as a pro in 2021, she has only begun to scratch the surface of her potential on the beach.
Toni has a story that puts the heart of an athlete that loves the game on display. Through multiple injuries, she fought back and established herself as a leader playing both indoor and beach volleyball at LSU. Her willingness to share her story to inspire athletes to take care of themselves, be patient through healing, and come back stronger speaks volumes about her character and resilience. Toni is an aspiring professional on the beach and the owner of Level Up Volleyball, the college recruiting business she created to leverage her experience to benefit the next generation of collegiate volleyball athletes.
