Next Level Podcast

Back to back football interviews! On this episode of the Next Level Podcast, former Utica College football player Alfonzo Whitehurst joins the show. Aside from playing college football at Utica, Fonz spent 1 year coaching there as well. Currently he is an elementary physical education teacher in the Syracuse City School District. Along with that, Fonz coaches the lineman for the Corcoran high school football team. To top all of that off, he also works summers outdoors at YMCA Camp Gorham where he teaches kids all about team building, taking risks, and having fun. Fonz talks about his love for football at an early age, his enjoyable high school football experience, and the steps he took to be recruited to play college football. We also get into the commitment it takes to play at such a competitive level. After the football talk, we then get into physical education and coaching. One year into teaching, Fonz has a TON of great information to offer to future physical educators and coaches. (I can't wait to apply some of this information to my students and athletes!) Fonz has an amazing work ethic and this interview was very motivating. Tune in to hear a great interview from a guy who has a lot of knowledge on football, physical education, and coaching. I really enjoyed this one!! 

Episode 7 features our first interview with a college football player. Cole Burchill played 4 years at Hamilton College where he was a linebacker, a two year captain, and 2018 defensive MVP. Burchill has been playing football since he was about 5-6 years old. This episode we talk about Pop Warner football all the way up to his college career. Cole offers great advice to any young football player going through the school football system. We talk about the great times he had playing from his flag football days all the way to his playing days at Hamilton College. Cole talks about what he went through when it came to getting recruited and noticed as a player and a student. We go on to talk about what it takes to play at the college level, along with the great experiences Hamilton gave him. Currently a United States Marine, we talk a little bit about his training, routine, and what the future holds. Tune in to hear a great episode with a guy who has an incredible work ethic share his stories and insights about getting to the Next Level!

Episode 6 features former professional hockey player Sam Wilbur. Hailing from Saginaw, Michigan, "Dubbs" started playing ice hockey at a young age. However it wasn't until he was much older that he decided he wanted to pursue it at a competitive level. Tune in to hear how one phone call Sam got while in a Uhaul truck changed his entire mindset and hockey playing career. We talk junior hockey, college hockey, and professional hockey. We also discuss the importance of team chemistry, how having a positive mindset transitions to on ice play, his incredible fitness transformation, and much more! Hilarious interview with an athlete who faced lots of adversity and made the most of his chances when given the opportunity! Enjoy!

Episode 5 of the Next Level Podcast brings on London, Ontario native Eric Bogart and Rockland, Massachusetts native Ryan Dunn. Eric and Ryan played junior hockey together in the EHL for the New England Wolves. They then want on to play college hockey in the competitive SUNYAC for Fredonia. Both Eric and Ryan discuss what youth and high school hockey were like in their areas. We discuss public, private, and prep school hockey. We also talk about both their decisions to play junior hockey in the EHL and how they were able to get recruited to play college hockey. This episode is a little different than the others, I have Eric and Ryan on the entire time with me. We share some stories about our playing days together, on and off the ice. My goal was to show the bond and friendships you gain from playing junior, or college hockey. This episode provides two separate pathways that end up having the same successful ending. Tune in for a great episode that was a ton of fun to record!  

Episode 4 features former college hockey goaltender and current college hockey coach Nate Skidmore! Nate was an incredible guest, provides insights from both a player's perspective, as well as a coach's perspective. Nate is one of the many who has a very unique story and pathways to how he was able to play hockey at the competitive collegiate level. Nate talks about how he started to become a goaltender, what youth hockey was like in his area, his impressive junior hockey career, to his successful college career, to being a Division 1 assistant coach at RPI, and a TON more! We talk recruitment, and what he and his coaching staff look for in a player coming up in the system. If you are aspiring to become a college hockey player, this is the interview for you!! With a ton of hockey knowledge, Nate talks about what it takes physically and mentally to play at the Next Level. Very important information regarding the mental aspect of the game as well! Be sure to tune it! Also a couple shout outs to my buddy Jonny Carlson since this is episode #4.

Episode 3 features Charlie Bertrand! Next spring, Charlie is using is final year of eligibility to play college lacrosse at ACC powerhouse Virginia. Charlie was also drafted with the 44th overall pick in the MLL draft by the Connecticut Hammerheads. Before all this, Charlie played division 2 lacrosse at Merrimack where he was a 2X national champion, a team captain, and winner of the rookie of the year award his freshman season in his conference. Growing up in Baldwinsville, NY, Charlie shares his lacrosse journey and explains how he was able to play and have so much success at such a high level. Charlie emphasizes how his work ethic, determination, and love for the game were all important factors to play at the high level he is at. Charlie talks about recruitment, youth lacrosse, travel lacrosse, lacrosse in the Northeast, and much more! Tune in to hear a great success story that lead to national championships, a member of a division 1 team, and a Major League Lacrosse draft pick. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Episode 2 features Central New York native Bailey Gauthier. Bailey is a collegiate baseball player who currently plays for one of the best division 3 teams in the nation at SUNY Cortland. Bailey also spent three years playing at SUNY Fredonia. Bailey has battled through some adversity dealing with some injuries. With his determination to get back out on the field, Bailey made the most of his opportunity to play at Cortland. Bailey provides a ton of great information for young athletes who are looking to play baseball at the next level. He talks about what college coaches look for in a player, along with the hard work that players need to put in. Tune in to listen to Bailey's unique and inspiring story!

The first episode of the Next Level Podcast! The podcast that helps athletes get to their next desired level of play. The pilot episode features Damien Kulynych from Calgary, Alberta. "Damo" has a very impressive hockey resume. We talk about youth hockey in Western Canada, we talk about the WHL, the junior leagues he played in which are the Alberta Junior Hockey League, and the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. We then go on to discuss he college hockey career in the United States and then in Canada. Which leads him to where he is at now, playing professional hockey overseas in Sweden. Damien talks a lot about the process of being recruited and playing all over the map.

The Next Level Podcast provides listeners many tips and strategies needed to take to get noticed and get to the next level. My goal is to inspire the younger generation of athletes to put in hard work so they can go on to play high levels on their respected sport. I hope that by listening to Damien's story, you learn a lot about what it takes to get noticed, elevate your play, and get to that next level!

Lastly quick introduction about the host Nick Harper. Nick has grown up playing multiple sports. Nick played college hockey and is now a college goaltender coach, a high school hockey assistant coach, and a junior varsity head baseball coach. He also studies physical education and aspires to be a P.E. teacher in the future while still coaching at a high level. Hope you enjoy!