SOGO's Lead Coaches
We take pride in our program and the fantastic team that help us put the whole thing together. Without the help of our coaches, we simply would not be able to provide fun and safe adventures for our SOGO Adventure Running kids. Thank you coaches! Here are just a few of our spectacular coaches...
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Marcus Mueller, Head Coach - Levels 1 & 2 Most commonly found in the foothills and Rockies of Southern Alberta, either on motorbikes, foot, or skis Marcus Mueller is an avid outdoorsman and adventurer. Happiest when out in the woods or up on the side of mountains and hills he has often cited that his greatest fear is being stuck behind a desk. Luckily he has managed to live and work a life outdoors. Marcus is passionate to share his love and knowledge of the outdoors with others, and help foster this love in all our SOGO Participants. He came up through the program himself (first as an adventure runner, then volunteer, now up to head coach), he has learned the value of long term development through sport. Marcus has since become an essential part of the SOGO coaching team for many seasons now, helping with almost all levels of our program from Level 1 to 2 and even occasionally our Squirts. His experience coaching and training with all levels of SOGO has given him a unique perspective when it comes to passing on what he's learned. |
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Lexie Sair, Assistant Head Coach - Levels 1 & 2 Lexie is quite new to the world of orienteering, but she is loves it already. She has been a snowboard coach for a four years running. Having taught many people with a vast range of experience —from beginners to her own advanced freestyle groups. Lexie is thrilled to get the opportunity to transfer her experience coaching to teaching orienteering. When Lexie is not coaching anything she is most likely still outside; choosing to snowboard (or occasionally ski) in the winter and going camping, backpacking, hiking, or swimming in the summer. Her athletic background lies largely in track and field, volleyball, and of course, snow sports. Taking part in these sports has made Lexie want to share her passion for physical activity and the outdoors with as many people as she can |
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Braxton Smith,
Head Coach - Squirts Braxton joined our SOGO team in the fall of 2020 impressing us with his fun and easy-going personality coaching our squirts kids and later our Level 1's. Beyond SOGO, Braxton enjoys the outdoors, hiking and mountain biking as much as possible. Growing up with a background that emphasized sport, he played basketball and volleyball, winning a high school provincial championship in 2019. Braxton aims to pass on his love for sport, working as a mountain bike instructor in the summer months, while bringing this same passion to the sport of orienteering with SOGO. He very much appreciates getting kids active in the outdoors, while learning useful skills such as map reading, running and navigating the woods and wild areas of our cities. Currently studying education at the University of Lethbridge, Braxton hopes to one day apply his skills and energy to the formal education system and become a teacher! |
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Shelley Brolsma, Coach - Cochrane - Squirts, Levels 1 & 2 Shelley has now been with our SOGO for many seasons now and we are happy to have her on our team! Shelley has been in the fitness industry as a coach and personal trainer for 30 years. She also has a background as a group fitness instructor, water safety instructor and as a youth coach. Shelley comes to SOGO with a background in team-based youth training and coaching dry-land training. Beyond her time spent coaching, Shelley's passion is for the outdoors and living through nature, which she embodies through her hobbies of cycle touring, painting, climbing, hiking, swimming, event planing, singing and, of course, adventure running! |
Jess Marks
Assistant Coach - Levels 1 & 2
Jess has been coaching with SOGO for the last three seasons. Having been a junior preschool & kindergarten teacher for two years now, Jess bring to SOGO so much creativity and technical strength in communicating and teaching kids of all ages. She loves being outdoors, exploring new hobbies & activities with friends, and sharing these experiences with new acquaintances. Jess says that she loves working with SOGO because of the awesome team of coaches we have every season; they show endless dedication and hard work to ensure for an awesome season full of fun and new ideas. (Thanks Jess!)
Assistant Coach - Levels 1 & 2
Jess has been coaching with SOGO for the last three seasons. Having been a junior preschool & kindergarten teacher for two years now, Jess bring to SOGO so much creativity and technical strength in communicating and teaching kids of all ages. She loves being outdoors, exploring new hobbies & activities with friends, and sharing these experiences with new acquaintances. Jess says that she loves working with SOGO because of the awesome team of coaches we have every season; they show endless dedication and hard work to ensure for an awesome season full of fun and new ideas. (Thanks Jess!)
Jake MacNeil,
Assistant Coach - Levels 1 & 2
Hi all! My name is Jake MacNeil and I have been with SOGO for 2 full seasons now. I am an assistant head coach and will be helping run the level 2 program as of this upcoming season. Outside of SOGO, I am working through my concurrent Kinesiology and Education degree at the University of Calgary with an end goal of becoming a physical educator within Calgary. In the winter months I love to downhill ski and in the summer I am on frequent hiking and backpacking trips. Growing up I spent most of my free time exploring which fostered my passion for the outdoors at an early age. As per usual I am looking forward for the upcoming season and am excited to get outside in rain or shine!
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Gabrielle Kort,
Level 3 Coach Gabrielle began orienteering in her teenage years, and had the benefit of excellent coaching. She was on the National Orienteering squad and was a member of the National Ski-Orienteering Team. She's had many years of high-level competitions - International, National, Provincial, and the World's Masters' Games. Since 2005, Gabrielle has been a coach in FWOC's Junior program, and has been a senior SOGO coach since 2016. Moving form the Level 2 to the Level 3 group has allowed her to mentor, and to share the amazing development of teenage participants. She is very proud of SOGO's Level 3 graduates , some of whom have become coaches, and others who are on the National Junior Orienteering Team. Gabrielle very much enjoys coaching. Also last year, she won 2 silver medals in the Canadian Orienteering Championships! She continues to complete in local, national and international competitions, while simultaneously volunteering with FWOC in roles such as Safety Chief and behind the scenes event organization. |
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Clarence Kort,
Level 3 Coach
Clarence was introduced this lifelong activity in high school, as a wonderful extension of cross-country running. He developed his skills over many years, by competing, organizing events, and coaching in FWOC's Junior Program since 2005. Clarence very much enjoys competing and has won 2 bronze medals in the 2022 Canadian Championships. He sees no end to participating in this "Sport for Life"! It brings him great pleasure and satisfaction to provide his best coaching advice and mentorship to the young orienteers who join the SOGO Level 3 program. To see some of them progress to international competition is the icing on the cake! With Spring 2023 season upon us, Clarence looks forward to coaching the SOGO L3s again!
Level 3 Coach
Clarence was introduced this lifelong activity in high school, as a wonderful extension of cross-country running. He developed his skills over many years, by competing, organizing events, and coaching in FWOC's Junior Program since 2005. Clarence very much enjoys competing and has won 2 bronze medals in the 2022 Canadian Championships. He sees no end to participating in this "Sport for Life"! It brings him great pleasure and satisfaction to provide his best coaching advice and mentorship to the young orienteers who join the SOGO Level 3 program. To see some of them progress to international competition is the icing on the cake! With Spring 2023 season upon us, Clarence looks forward to coaching the SOGO L3s again!
Susie Materi,
Program Coordinator
Susie joined SOGO as the Program Coordinator in summer of 2022. With 25+ years of coaching experience from grass roots development to high performance sport, she's excited to support SOGO's philosophy, sharing the sport with as many people as she can, showcasing how it can be pursued at any level, recreationally or competitively, between all generations, and for life. Be sure to reach-out to her for anything; she's so happy and determined to help bring SOGO to your family, school or event!
Program Coordinator
Susie joined SOGO as the Program Coordinator in summer of 2022. With 25+ years of coaching experience from grass roots development to high performance sport, she's excited to support SOGO's philosophy, sharing the sport with as many people as she can, showcasing how it can be pursued at any level, recreationally or competitively, between all generations, and for life. Be sure to reach-out to her for anything; she's so happy and determined to help bring SOGO to your family, school or event!
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Tiffany Medeiros,
SOGO@School / SOGO Groups Coordinator & Coach Tiffany is brand new to SOGO but has been physically active since she was 5, starting with baseball and continuously adding sports (running, basketball, volleyball, rowing etc) and adventures as the years passed by. She believes physical activity is great for the mind and soul and loves to help people find their own inner "fitness" passion. As a certified personal trainer and group exercise coach, she has spent many years supporting people in their fitness endeavours. Tiffany is an avid "can't sit still" individual that loves trying new things (except food). You can find her running, biking, hiking, trying not to drown in a pool while swimming laps, walking her dog, playing catch or frisbee, not making par at the golf course or pretending she knows how to do crafts. Some of these activities are with her adorable twin daughters, friends, partner or just by herself. A self-proclaimed "big dreamer", she likes to think the "best" has yet to come and that there is always something to look forward to, strive for or dream of. Give her the chance to travel, she's100% in to explore, learn and embrace change. Tiffany hopes to lead by example and inspire everyone she meets to believe in themselves and imagine BIG things. |
