Our Origin Story
In 2014, Phil Schrupp fractured his spine after being struck by a drunk driver.
Just one year later, he was struck by yet another drunk driver, leaving him with torn shoulder ligaments and chronic pain throughout his entire upper body.
Physical therapy was unsuccessful, and he was eventually told that he would have to learn to live with his pain. Instead, he decided to take matters into his own hands.
After just a few months of strength training, his aches and pains finally began to resolve, giving him his life back.
He founded SOTA in 2017 and designed a proprietary training system to help others reclaim control of their health, commit to personal fitness, and live a more limitless lifestyle.
Phil is a devoted husband to Katy and a father of two young daughters, Shay and Sophia, and he enjoys music and reading in his (minimal) free time.
Meet the Team
(a.k.a. the awesome people you’ll be working with)
Phil Schrupp
Founder & Head Coach
After overcoming chronic pain from two serious car accidents as a teenager, Phil discovered the power of strength training to rebuild not just his body, but his entire life. What started as a personal recovery journey turned into a professional mission: to help others break free from pain, build resilience, and create lasting change through fitness. With a background in psychology and pre-med, Phil founded SOTA Personal Training in 2017 with a clear vision: ditch the quick fixes, master the fundamentals, and build a strong body that supports a stronger life. Today, he leads the SOTA team with that same philosophy: challenging, sustainable, and pain-free training that transforms more than just muscles.
Katy Schrupp
Member Experience Specialist & Director of Operations
With a background that bridges healthcare and human connection, Katy brings a unique blend of clinical expertise and people-centered service to the SOTA team. After years in the medical field (including over seven years supporting neurosurgeons in the OR), she made the leap into the world of fitness and wellness, inspired by her own transformation through strength training and yoga. Her passion for movement started in high school sports and reignited after overcoming chronic back pain in her 20s. Katy now channels that drive into helping SOTA members feel seen, supported, and empowered, both in and out of the gym. A lifelong learner and proud mom of two, she believes deeply in leading by example and modeling healthy, sustainable habits. Whether she’s organizing operations behind the scenes or connecting with members on the floor, Katy is all about creating a world-class experience for the SOTA community.
Sean Tumilson
Certified Personal Trainer & Strength Coach
Sean’s path to coaching came through personal transformation. After struggling with physical insecurities and chronic digestive issues in his teens and twenties, he committed to a deep dive into holistic health, fitness, and biohacking in his 30s. As a certified personal trainer, Sean blends science, experimentation, and lived experience to help others build strong, sustainable lifestyles. With a background in language and communication—and fluency in five languages—Sean brings a personalized, education-focused approach to every session. His coaching style is all about finding what works for the individual, simplifying the process, and helping members “crack the code” on feeling and performing their best.
Blake Pieschke
Certified Personal Trainer & Strength Coach
Blake’s journey into fitness started with a personal transformation. After gaining weight post-high school, he committed to training and never looked back. The confidence and compliments that followed sparked a passion that led him to shift career paths and become a certified personal trainer. Since 2021, Blake has coached both small group and one-on-one sessions with individuals of all skill levels, including those with injuries or physical limitations. With a background in biomechanics and a deep understanding of movement, Blake is known for helping his clients move better, feel better, and train smarter. His coaching style is approachable, supportive, and grounded in the belief that fitness should enhance your life, not add stress to it. Whether you're new to training or navigating your own comeback story, Blake’s here to make the journey both effective and enjoyable.
Ben Kohler
Certified Personal Trainer & Strength Coach
With a background in competitive soccer and a passion for group fitness that sparked in college, Ben brings energy, education, and a people-first approach to every session. After earning his B.S. in Sport and Exercise Science and coaching in Seattle for several years, he went on to complete his Master’s in Kinesiology at the University of Minnesota, focusing on the behavioral aspects of physical activity. Ben’s mission is simple: to create positive, empowering movement experiences that help people stay consistent and feel confident. Whether he’s supporting clients in their fitness journey or mentoring future coaches, Ben’s all about helping you find the kind of movement that makes you feel strong, capable, and excited to keep going.
Maddy Johnson
Certified Personal Trainer & Strength Coach
Maddy’s journey into coaching started after her own “retirement” from competitive sports left her searching for purpose and guidance. With no coach to follow, she took matters into her own hands, diving into strength training, health, and wellness so passionately that she changed her college and career path to pursue it full time. Since 2019, Maddy has coached athletes from middle school to college, but discovered her true calling in working one-on-one with everyday people, helping them realize they’re stronger than they think. Her mission is to break down the intimidation barrier around fitness and help people build both physical and mental strength. Maddy believes a strong mindset is just as important as a strong body, and her coaching style is all about turning self-doubt into confidence, one positive rep at a time.
Rowen Bentley-Melle
Certified Personal Trainer & Strength Coach
After years of feeling uncoordinated in team sports, Rowen discovered her confidence through fitness—and it stuck! A well-coached strength program in high school sparked a passion for training and a deep appreciation for personalized, science-based programming. Since 2019, she has coached both group and one-on-one sessions across a wide range of disciplines, including weightlifting, gymnastics, rowing, and energy systems training. Her mission is to help people get stronger, feel more energized, and build a lasting connection to their bodies without falling into the traps of burnout or injury.
More than just a workout
From the very beginning, we set out to do more than just get people sweating, so we created a space where everyone feels right at home, welcome, and comfortable pushing themselves to the next level. A place to sweat out any self-doubt or uncertainty, and a place to build confidence and take back control of the narrative, one workout at a time.