Luke Shepherd, known as Coach Shep, is a coach focusing on the player first mentality.  He is a hitting instructor and the manager of The WAVE Athletics.  He has spent the last 20+ years coaching athletics (softball, baseball, basketball, track, and golf).  Shepherd spent 15 years as a strength and conditioning coach, and he earned his Exercise Science degree at UNO. He has a passion for biomechanics (how they body moves through activities).  

In 2014 Coach Shep was transferred to Lincoln for his job as a club manager for Prairie Life Fitness.  He worked for Prairie Life Fitness for 16+ years as a trainer, fitness director and club manager before taking over as general manager at The WAVE Athletics in July of 2020.  Prairie Life Fitness taught him a lot about what it is like to work for and be taught by a "people first" mentality which parallels his coaching style, and what The WAVE Athletics is all about. 

Coach Shep spends most of his time coaching, and with his two daughters and wife (Melissa).  In his down time he spends it watching coaching videos on hitting and mental training.  

Master Cochnar is now a 12x World Champion, co-owns and operates taekwondo schools in Lincoln, Seward, and Crete, NE., and is a 6th Degree Black Belt Master Instructor in the ATA, winning Regional Instructor of the Year in 2023 and recognized as one of the finalists for ATA National Instructor of the Year. She is a National ATA Protech Instructor for the Korean Sword, and has a 2nd Degree Black Belt and Instructorship in Kummooyeh (traditional Korean sword and archery) as well.

Having accomplished the goals she set for herself over 20 years ago, Master Cochnar has set new ones. One of these goals is to team with school districts and community organizations to help create as many strong leaders out of today’s youth as possible. Master Cochnar visits schools to teach positive life skills such as confidence, focus, respect and perseverance through the physical skills of martial arts. Master Cochnar teaches students through assemblies or during individual classroom visits. Bully Prevention is often a component of many classes.

Another passion is teaching Women’s Self Defense. Master Cochnar teaches interactive sessions to individuals, in small groups, or in large groups or even corporate settings. As an avid runner, Cochnar will share situational awareness examples, what to avoid scenarios and new safety ideas to implement. Master Cochnar teaches easy to learn and effective self defense techniques.

Master Cochnar has certifications in SafeSport and Traliant, keeping Gold Star ATA Martial Arts at the forefront with the best in compliance training, and working and learning free of emotional, physical and sexual abuse and misconduct. Master Cochnar and all of Gold Star ATA’s Nationally Certified Instructors regularly go through background checks as well.

Master Cochnar graduated from Doane University in 2017 with a Business degree, along with minors in Communications and Leadership Studies. Her entire immediate family members all have black belts – 4th Degree or higher.

Stefany Johnson is a dedicated wellness professional with over a decade of experience in esthetics, massage therapy, and yoga instruction. With a deep commitment to holistic health and continuous learning, she seamlessly integrates multiple modalities to support her clients’ mindfulness and physical wellbeing. 

Professional Background

Esthetics (14 years)
Stefany began her journey in the beauty and skin-care industry 14 years ago. Trained in a range of esthetic techniques—from clinical facials to advanced skin rejuvenation—she has developed a reputation for delivering personalized treatment plans that address each client’s unique needs.

Massage Therapy (10 years)
For the past decade, Stefany has provided therapeutic massage services that draw on Swedish, deep-tissue, and holistic massage modalities. Her approach emphasizes injury prevention, stress reduction, and improved mobility.

Yoga Practice & Training (15 years)
A devoted yoga student for 15 years, Stefany completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training and is currently pursuing her 300-hour certification. Her practice blends alignment-based, restorative, and mindful movement styles designed to cultivate strength, flexibility, and inner calm.

With her massage and yoga background she is sure to lead you through a practice that combines not only stretching for the muscles but also strengthening, lengthening and overall wellness. 

Sarah Rainey is the owner and founder of Invigorating Motion Physical Therapy and co-owner of Wave Fitness, based in Nebraska. A Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) graduate from Belmont University, Sarah brings her expertise and passion to helping individuals of all activity levels achieve optimal movement and performance.

As a former collegiate basketball player at Hastings College, Sarah understands the demands placed on athletes and active individuals. She specializes in full-body movement analysis to identify and address the root causes of pain and injury, aiming to restore function and prevent future issues. Sarah collaborates with fitness professionals to enhance performance and reduce injury risks for her clients, ranging from everyday movers to high-level athletes.  Dr Rainey also has her certification in dry needling to provide faster healing, pain reduction and improve movement. 

When she’s not working with clients, Sarah enjoys life in Ashland with her two children, Kaiden and Anabella. She is dedicated to her community, promoting health, wellness, and active lifestyles for all.

Growing up playing soccer, at the University of Nebraska and later overseas in Wales, I quickly learned how integral nutrition is to both training and recovery. It’s not just about fueling your body—it’s about maximizing performance and feeling your best.

Most recently, I worked with the University of Nebraska football team, which deepened my understanding of high-level athletes' nutritional needs. This experience strengthened my passion for helping athletes and active individuals make nutrition a key part of their journey. As a dietitian, I use my athletic background to guide others in building sustainable habits that support peak performance and overall well-being—whether on the field or in everyday life.

In my free time, you can find me exploring new places, trying out different restaurants, and enjoying the outdoors. Staying active is key, and right now, I’m loving running, pickleball, and HIIT workouts. As for golf… well, it’s definitely a work in progress!

I’m excited to be part of your wellness journey and help you make nutrition a powerful part of your success. Whether you're aiming to boost performance, improve health, or simply feel your best, I’m here to support you every step of the way.

I got inspired to be a trainer through doing it as a side gig in school and developing a connections with the people I worked with through group fitness classes and personal training. For me being a training is a lot more than leading a workout, I get to intentionally put together a plan to help a people meet their fitness goals, that is what keeps me going. 

My coaching philosophy is built around the belief that real growth happens when people push past their comfort zones together. Working out isn’t just about burning calories and building strength; it’s about showing up, working hard, and creating a space where effort is celebrated and everyone feels accomplished.

With over 10 years of my own fitness journey and 4 years of personal fitness experience, I bring a wealth of knowledge and energy to every session. I earned my certification through ACE (American Council on Exercise) and firmly believe fitness is a cornerstone of a healthy, fulfilling lifestyle. Sharing my love for fitness is one of my greatest joys, and I take pride in inspiring and motivating others to embark on and succeed in their fitness journeys. 

Jay Adams is a four-time First Team All‑GPAC and Omaha World‑Herald All‑Midlands honoree, earning accolades in 2021–24, and was named NAIA Honorable Mention All‑American in 2022 

During his standout fifth year in 2024, Adams transitioned to right field and started all 57 games, slashing .393/.463/.612 with 11 home runs, 50 RBIs, 12 steals, and scoring 70 runs. He also contributed defensively with a .981 fielding percentage and three outfield assists. That season, he posted 28 multi‑hit games and went 6-for-6 in a single game at the national tournament—matching his program’s single-game hits record.

Adams ended his Concordia career as one of the program’s most decorated players: he ranks No. 1 all-time in games played (247), at-bats (970), hits (352), doubles (69), and runs scored (286); he ranks No. 2 in RBIs (224), No. 3 in batting average (.363) and assists (369); and No. 4 in both stolen bases (52) and walks (108), plus No. 5 in home runs (45).

In earlier seasons, Adams was a consistent force:

• In 2023, he anchored second base (.326 avg) with 11 home runs, 53 RBIs, 66 runs, and 14 steals, helping him break the program career runs record (216) during that year.

• In 2022, his junior year, he batted .371 with a program-high performance: 18 home runs, 65 RBIs, 67 runs, and 15 steals en route to breaking school single-season records for hits and runs. He had a six-hit game and matched a school-best three‑home‑run game in the GPAC tournament.

• As a sophomore in 2021, Jay hit .380 and posted 65 runs, 16 doubles, and five home runs, earning weekly regional and conference Player of the Week honors.

Jay’s consistency, leadership, and elite performance made him a cornerstone of Concordia’s most successful era, contributing to multiple GPAC titles and national tournament appearances under Coach Ryan Dupic.

Griffin Everitt was a student-athlete who played baseball at the University of Nebraska Lincoln. He majored in Sports Media and Communication. His honors include being named CSC Academic All-District in 2023, Big Ten Distinguished Scholar in 2022, and earning Academic All-Big Ten recognition in 2022 and 2023. He was also a consistent presence on the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll and a member of the 2021 NCAA All-Fayetteville Region Team.

Everitt’s athletic career at Nebraska spanned three impactful seasons. In 2023, he competed in 36 games, hitting .233 with four home runs and 16 RBIs, including standout performances against Northern Colorado and No. 23 Maryland. In 2022, he started all 53 games, posting a .291 average with eight home runs and tying for the team-high with 12 doubles. His season highlights included a walk-off double in the home opener against Omaha and two four-hit games. During the 2021 season, Everitt hit .287 over 37 games, with six doubles, three home runs, and 21 RBIs, with memorable performances against Northwestern and Ohio State.

Before Nebraska, Everitt honed his skills at Kansas City Kansas Community College, where he earned JBB first-team All-America honors in 2020 after batting .483 with six home runs in a shortened season. A standout at Lincoln Southwest High School, he also earned academic all-conference honors.

Griffin is currently playing professionally with the Lincoln Saltdogs.

Noah Griese, a Kinesiology major from Omaha, Nebraska, is a key contributor to the University of Nebraska Omaha Mavericks baseball team. As a junior in 2023, he appeared in 29 games, posting a .271 batting average with a team-high .399 slugging percentage and a .902 OPS. His performance included 10 doubles, four home runs, 22 RBIs, and 15 runs scored. The previous year, as a redshirt sophomore, he started 44 games, primarily as the designated hitter, finishing third on the team with five home runs, nine doubles, and 26 RBIs, along with an impressive 32 walks, which placed him sixth in the Summit League. Highlights of his season included a 3-for-5 game with a double and two RBIs against San Jose State and a strong Summit League tournament performance with a home run and three RBIs against North Dakota State. 

Before UNO, Noah played his redshirt freshman season at Wichita State. He previously attended Millard South High School, where he led his team to consecutive state runner-up finishes, earned All-State honors, and posted a .408 batting average with 12 doubles and three home runs as a junior. Noah’s focus and leadership continue to be key assets to the Mavericks.

Tyler Palmer is a versatile infielder and outfielder who evolved through multiple levels of competitive college baseball. He began his collegiate career at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, appearing in 17 games in 2022 as a redshirt freshman, earning Academic All‑Big Ten honors and contributing on the basepaths with two stolen bases and a run scored.

After transferring to Southeast Community College, he emerged as a standout performer in 2023—playing 56 games, batting .386 with 73 hits, 14 home runs, and 57 RBIs. He also stole 21 bases, posted an impressive on-base percentage (.466), slugged .725, and ranked among the NJCAA stats leaders in major offensive categories.

Most recently, Palmer continued his career at University of Nebraska Omaha, where he played two seasons — in 2024 he appeared in 23 games (.343 avg, .510 SLG, 2 RBIs), and as a graduate student in 2025, he became a regular in the lineup: hitting .304 with a .405 OBP and .789 OPS over 40 games (35 starts), driving in 20 runs, and recording one home run. His strong performance earned him Honorable Mention All‑Summit League honors. Defensively reliable, he seamlessly handled multiple infield and outfield roles throughout his Omaha tenure.

Off the field, Tyler majors in psychology, with aspirations to become a sports psychologist. He hails from Columbus, NE, and balances his student-athlete life with interests in music—he plays the drums—and quality time with his golden retriever puppy, Atlas. He comes from a large family including parents Brian and Tami, and sisters Annie, Faith, Sophie, and Kylie.

Recently graduated from The University of Nebraska Lincoln, Billie was a 4-year starter on the Husker Softball team. Prior to being a Husker, she went to Gretna High School and achieved All-State honors all four years by both the Lincoln Journal Star and Omaha World Herald. 

When Billie was at UNL, she majored in Graphic Design with a minor in Communication Studies. She interned with Nebraska Athletics Creative and Emerging Media her junior and senior years. In her time as Husker, she set four records in home runs (career, 61), multi-home run games (career, 8), walks (game, 4, twice), home runs (by a sophomore, 20). As a freshman, Billie was a part of the Big Ten All-Freshman Team. During her sophomore year, she was part of the Big Ten Championship team and was named to the NFCA Third-Team All-Midwest Region, Second Team All-Big Ten, and won the Nebraska Female Athlete of the Year (All Sports) award. She was honored with First Team All-Big Ten her freshman, junior, and senior years. In both her junior and senior years, she made the NFCA First Team All-Midwest Region as well as NFCA Third Team All-American. Her senior year, she was one of four Team Captains while being a part of the Big-Ten All-Tournament Team. Her senior year, she was awarded by the Athletic Department by being named the Nebraska Female Student-Athlete of the Year (All Sports). 

Academically, Billie was named a CSC Academic All-American her senior year. Her sophomore, junior, and senior years, she was named to the CSC Academic All-District Team, a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, Academic All-Big Ten Team, and received a Nebraska Gold Academic Medallion. Billie was also a eight-time Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll Member, while being named to the College of Fine & Performing Arts Dean’s list for three semesters. She was also part of the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team all four years she was a Husker. 

Once upon a time, there was a 5-year-old girl who lived in Texas. One day, she was given a softball, and her life changed forever. That little girl fell in love with the game and craved to be in between the foul lines. By the age of 10, her attention was pulled to the mound. She was so interested in this position that she started her own pitching career. Passing through many years of blood sweat and tears, she was able to create memories and wonderful learning opportunities. She ended up playing at many different levels. From pitching for The Woodlands High School to playing for The University of Nebraska as a D1 athlete. 

Once her own playing career almost ended, she couldn’t stay away from the game. Continuing her love and passion, she decided to be a coach. This ended up opening many doors for her. She was able to move out to Singapore and help grow the game of softball on that side of the world. Once that journey was over, she was offered a position to help coach the Millard North High school softball team. She was able to coach two seasons for the Mustangs until she had another calling to be a full-time Elementary teacher. She had to put a halt to being a full-time coach, but she still longs to be a part of the softball world. If you haven’t figured out who that little girl was, it was me. Hi! I’m Caitlin Bartsch, I have been welcomed into The Wave family to help with pitching lessons and live hitting sessions. I am happy to be a part of The Wave family and would love for you to join us!

Kaylei Denison, a sophomore pitcher at Concordia University, Nebraska, plays a pivotal role for the Bulldogs. Standing at 5‑7 and majoring in psychology, Denison graduated from Waverly High School, where she earned all-conference recognition and lettered all four years. During her freshman season in 2024, she appeared in 18 games (12 starts), finishing with a 1–10 record and a 7.86 ERA over 49 innings pitched while striking out 24 batters. Despite the challenges of her first collegiate season, her early contributions laid the groundwork for her development in the program. Off the field, Kaylei enjoys building Legos, sleeping, eating—sweetening her collegiate journey with down-to-earth hobbies and a close-knit family life as the daughter of Darin Denison and Angie Wolf with five younger siblings.

A native Nebraskan, born and raised in Lincoln. I have 30+ years of softball experience as a player, coach, umpire and parent. These experiences are invaluable and I look forward to sharing my knowledge with anyone who wants to learn and grow, not just athletically, but in all aspects of life. Ive been blessed with 2 daughters and when I’m not on the diamond, I enjoy kayaking, running and serving others. My walk with Jesus is the most important thing in my life because without him I wouldn’t be who I am today. My priority in life is to use the gifts and talents He gave me to glorify His name.

Playing career: Lincoln Northeast HS (Varsity) 1998-2002 University of Nebraska-Lincoln 2002-2006 (BIG XII Champions 2004)

Coaching Career: Concordia University (NAIA) 2006-2008 (GPAC Champions 2008) Georgia College & State University (DII) 2008-2010 Kearney High School (Head JV Coach) 2012-2014.

I am a former pitcher for the Nebraska Wesleyan softball team and I am currently an assistant coach on their team as a pitching coach.

I lettered four years with the Prairie Wolves and appeared in 75 games and I am 6th all-time in school history in appearances.

I currently am in my fourth year as head coach for Prodigy Easton.

Graduated from Waverly High School (2024). I have played softball since first or second grade. Currently attending Midland University studying Education and playing softball.  I give lesson at The WAVE during my time away from school and playing, and also am an assistant coach for NE WAVE 14u.