Daytona Bryden
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High School
A Hononegah High School standout, Bryden was a 4-year starter from 2010-2013. He was a two-time USSSA First Team All-American, and had three of his teammates go on to play in the MLB. Bryden was a member of an International Tournament Team in 2012 and 2013.
College
Bryden played at UW-Whitewater from 2014-2018, where the team never dropped below #16 in the national rankings. He was a 4-time WIAC Champion and 2-time Regional Champion, highlighted by a National Championship in 2014. In 2018, Bryden was elected team captain and had a historic season which culminated in earning the Division III National Player of the Year Award. He set single season records in batting average, triples, and stolen bases. He also set career records in batting average and stolen bases during his time as a Warhawk, earning him a spot on the D3 All-Decade Baseball Team for 2010-2020. Bryden spent the summers of 2015 and 2017 playing the Northwoods League for the Eau Claire Express.
Professional
In 2019, Bryden played professionally with the Sioux City Explorers in the American Association where he played with and against many former and future MLB players.
From Daytona
“I am so beyond excited to have my own academy where I can utilize my experience and expertise to help athletes reach their full potential. And to be in Rockford – a community I have been a part of my entire life and enjoy being in – makes it extra special. I care a lot about what I do and I take great responsibility in being entrusted with working with your son. I look forward to having the opportunity to make a positive impact on your son’s baseball career as well as who they are as a person.”
Mike Aiello
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College
Originally from Racine, WI, Aiello went from UW-Milwaukee (D1) to Madison College (NJCAA) to UW-Whitewater (D3) during his collegiate career. He was the starting catcher on a record setting Madison College team in the 2015 NJCAA World Series. At UW-Whitewater, Aiello was a defensive standout as the starting catcher, and improved his offensive game each season. He earned 1st Team All-WIAC twice. Aiello played in the Northwoods League in 2015 and 2018 for the Madison Mallards and Lakeshore Chinooks. Aiello’s best season came in 2019 as a team captain. He finished 2nd in the WIAC in homeruns, earned 2nd Team All-Midwest Region, and was named the National Academic All-America of the Year. He also earned The Max-Sparger WIAC Scholar Athlete Award after graduating with a bachelor’s and a master’s from UW-Whitewater with a perfect 4.00 GPA.
Professional
After college, Aiello signed to play professionally with the St. Paul Saints in 2019 where he hit .229 with a .413 OBP as the primary backup catcher. Aiello played the full season after being signed and was on the team’s playoff roster as St. Paul went on to win the American Association Championship. After the season, Aiello was invited to a private workout with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Aiello was signed to return to St. Paul in 2020 before the pandemic led him to begin a career in college coaching. Aiello continues to play competitively in Wisconsin for the Kewaskum A’s, winning Rock River League Championships in 2020 and 2023.
Coaching
Dating back to 2013, Aiello has been involved with private instruction, including being the head coach of several youth teams. In 2020, Aiello began coaching collegiately as an assistant strength coach at UW-Whitewater where he coached numerous future professional athletes. Aiello spent time coaching at several private gyms that specialize in baseball players as well. During this time, he began coaching college baseball part-time. In 2021, he became a full time college baseball coach and the head strength coach at Bryant & Stratton College in Milwaukee. In 2022, Aiello returned to UW-Whitewater as a full-time assistant baseball coach. During his time as a college coach, Aiello assisted in coaching hitters, catchers, pitchers, and outfielders, as well as assisting in the recruitment of high school athletes. Aiello is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) from the National Strength and Conditioning Association, and a Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES) from the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Aiello is also Rapsodo Pitching Certified.
From Mike
“Opening my own academy has been a dream for a long time. I understand the importance a positive role model can have in a young person’s life, and just how powerful a coach can be for the young mind. I have a great passion for improving one’s ability to perform in baseball, and I am excited to share that passion with the Rockford area. My coaching style brings an educational lens, and I work to ensure each athlete is truly learning about themselves. With a background in exercise science and strength and conditioning, I am excited to bring holistic training to this area. I believe the overall development of the athlete is missing in today’s travel ball scene and my goal is to provide the value that athletes look for in improving their ability level. I am excited to help mentor the next generation of players in the Rockford area!”
Matt Smolich
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High School
Matt grew up in Boulder Colorado, he participated in competitive sports his whole life and excelled in youth baseball at a high level from 9-16 years old. He loved the challenge and responsibility of being a catcher and making big plays for his team in-field. After sustaining a variety of injuries and set-backs, Matt turned to weightlifting at a young age where he discovered the power of the body and his true passion for kinesiology and movement science.
College
Matt holds a Master’s degree in Sport and Rehabilitation Science from Logan University and a Bachelors in Exercise and Sport Science from the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh, bringing a coaching style rooted in biomechanics application, sports science, and individualized progression. He specializes in bridging the gap between performance and injury prevention, with a sharp eye for movement quality, efficient loading strategies, and return-to-play preparation.
Coaching
Matt Smolich is a dedicated strength and conditioning coach with over 10 years of experience training individuals and athletes across all levels in the weight room. Over the years, Matt has coached in private training facilities, physical therapy settings, and team environments, giving him a wide lens on what it takes to develop resilient, high-performing athletes. His philosophy centers on nailing the fundamentals — consistently — and adapting programs as athletes grow, compete, or recover.
From Matt
I am very passionate about strength and athletic development for youth athletes and am thrilled to be able to serve the Rockford area. I am dedicated to an evidence based approach and being a life-long scholar in the pursuit of continual personal and professional growth. At Strike, I am committed to creating a high-performance culture that challenges baseball athletes, supports their development, and prepares them to thrive both on and off the field.
Jonathan Blackwell
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High School
Jonathan was a standout at Hurricane High School in West Virginia, where he earned All-State honors twice, including First Team as a senior. He posted a dominant 10–1 record with a 1.08 ERA and 109 strikeouts his senior year, helping lead his team to a state finals appearance. A year prior, he went 7–2 with a 1.44 ERA and played a key role in Hurricane’s state championship run. Jonathan was recognized nationally as a Perfect Game Preseason All-American and was ranked the No. 1 left-handed pitcher in West Virginia by multiple scouting outlets.
College
Jonathan began his college career at Coastal Carolina University, where he contributed steadily over three seasons and made key appearances in the NCAA Regionals. In 2022 he had a strong summer season in the Valley League, posting a 2.45 ERA and closing with 19 straight scoreless innings. He transferred to Purdue University for his final two seasons, where he became a weekend starter and the only pitcher to start all 14 weekends in 2023. Also in 2023 he pitched at least five innings in 12 starts. In 2024 he started on the weekends again to help lead his team to a Big Ten Tournament appearance.
Coaching
Jonathan has gained valuable coaching experience by working numerous youth and high school baseball camps. He also spent the past few years offering private pitching lessons, helping young athletes improve their mechanics, build throwing strength, and develop better command.
From Jonathan
“I’m excited to be part of the team here at Strike Academy. Baseball has played a huge role in my life, helping me grow both on and off the field, and I’m passionate about passing that experience on. From a young age, I worked with pitching coaches who had a massive impact on me and I’d love to be that same positive presence for your athlete. My goal is to help young players not only become better athletes, but also better teammates. I’m excited to support your athlete’s development every step of the way.”
Aaron Monti
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High School
Monti played four years at Hononegah High School as a pitcher and first baseman where he was a three time honor roll student and team captain his senior year.
College
Monti is a current senior baseball player at Rockford University where he has been a starting pitcher for three years. Monti was selected to the Athletic Director’s honor roll for four straight years and has been a two time Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference Scholar-Athlete. Monti has also played summer baseball for the Kenosha Kingfish in the prestigious Northwoods League.
Coaching
Monti has coached several youth baseball camps, helping young athletes reach their full potential. Monti brings years of experience giving private lessons to young baseball players wanting to improve their pitching skills.
From Aaron
“Baseball has made a huge impact on my life since I was a little kid watching my older brother, and going to White Sox games with my dad. I fell in love with the game at a young age and even now I still try to make myself better every day. I have always wanted to pass on my knowledge to younger athletes and hope I can be the person that helps them improve and want to improve, like my coaches did for me.”
Kieren Collins
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High School
Born and raised in Bradenton, Florida, Collins attended IMG Academy where he played for several former MLB players, as well as former professional and collegiate coaches. As a senior in 2019, Collins dominated with a 0.25 ERA over 56 innings which included six complete game shutouts. He played alongside 10 players who would go on to play professionally and 20 more who went on to play collegiately. In addition to his accomplishments on the field, Collins graduated as the valedictorian of his class, with a 4.61 GPA.
College
Collins has spent the last five years pitching at Johns Hopkins University (D3), in Baltimore, Maryland. Over that time, he has won 3 Centennial Conference Championships, 3 NCAA Regionals, and pitched in 2 NCAA D3 College Worlds Series’. Individually, he ranks in the top 10 in JHU program history in Games Started (38), Wins (22), Winning Percentage (.846), Innings Pitched (237.2), and Strikeouts (195). He has been named to 3 All-Conference teams, 3 All-Region teams, and 4 Academic All-District teams. Collins was elected a team captain for the 2024 season, which saw his Blue Jays win an NCAA Regional Championship.
Coaching
Collins has spent the past two summers coaching the pitching staff of the Baltimore Clippers, in the Maryland Collegiate Baseball League. During this time, he worked with many talented pitchers at the High School, NJCAA, NCAA D3, and D2 levels.
From Kieren
“I have had the distinct privilege to be surrounded by and learn from great coaches my entire life, from my Dad when I played youth baseball, to professional coaches, to 45 year veterans of the college level. As a result I have seen firsthand how good, positive coaching can not only inspire on-field improvement, but also a lasting love for the game. My hope is to be able to impart both my knowledge on the diamond and my passion for the game to everyone I get the chance to work with here at Strike Academy.”
Ryan Stary
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High School
Played four years at Huntley High School. Hit .333 Senior year and played alongside a number of NCAA Division I Power 5 teammates.
College
Going into his junior year at Rockford University, Stary has served as the team’s main JV catcher. He finished with a .340 AVG and .520 OBP in his sophomore year while playing JV and got to see his first varsity start down in Florida. Along with being a two time NACC Scholar Athlete, Stary is majoring in Kinesiology with a minor in Business Administration.
Coaching
While a junior in high school, Stary worked with a number of youth catchers and helped them develop the main fundamentals of catching. In 2023, he was an assistant coach on 15u Phenom out of Crystal Lake, Illinois. He served as the team’s primary hitting and catching instructor. He currently works with youth catchers and is excited to be coaching with Strike Academy for the upcoming season.
From Ryan
“I am super excited to work my first internship here at Strike Academy. Since coming to school in Rockford I have met so many amazing people and a lot of it is due in part to baseball. It is extremely important to me to help the next generation of baseball players develop into their full potential. I promise I will help your athlete become a better player on the field, but a lot of what I enjoy teaching is the lessons that come off the field.”