Meet Coach Kyler Blades
The founder of Blades Athletic Performance Academy, Kyler Blades grew up loving anything athletic. Playing basketball, football, golf, and baseball growing up, he stuck to baseball through college. Finishing as a captain at the nationally ranked Pacific Lutheran University, Kyler studied Exercise Science and Business. Upon finishing his college baseball career, Coach Blades assisted both the Legion Baseball programs in the Flathead Valley. Since then, Kyler has formed his Flathead A’s club baseball team and has been named the Whitefish Baseball coach starting in 2023. He hopes to bring a new level of competition with his unique approach to baseball. Keeping kids playing longer, and enjoying this beautiful game.
Favorite Baseball team: Angels
Favorite Dessert: Cheesecake
Who do you look up to? Driveline group, Eric Cressey, and the Starting Strength group
What do you do when you’re not at the gym or field? Golfing or playing with my dog, Rocco
Meet Coach Max Smyley
Max’s baseball journey started locally in Whitefish, Montana, where he grew up and was a part of multiple Glacier Babe Ruth All-Star teams and spent a year with the Glacier Twins. In 2015 their All-Star team punched their ticket to the Babe Ruth World Series as a 15u team. Max’s path took a turn when he made the decision to move to Sarasota, Florida, in his junior year and finished high school at Cardinal Mooney. From there, he spent 4 years at the University of Redlands (D3), where he was a three-year starter as a middle infielder. He then transferred to Gardner Webb University (D1) as a graduate student, excelling as a utility infielder for 2 years. Currently, he is actively seeking a professional contract to further his career in baseball. Outside of training for baseball, he enjoys working out, hiking, and playing ping pong.
Favorite Baseball Team: New York Yankees
Favorite Player: Derek Jeter
Meet Coach Kurt Blades
This nickname stuck. Dubbed “Coach Dad” by our very own Coach Jena Willis. Growing up here in Flathead Valley, Coach Dad was a standout for Columbia Falls High School playing football, basketball, track and baseball. While he played basketball at Montana State, Coach Dad grew his knowledge and love of baseball in his post-playing days. An Optometrist in his free time, he has served on many community boards, including Project Whitefish Kids. The mastermind behind our "Sandlot Days" during the summer, Coach Dad just loves to see kids playing and having fun. A great supporter of youth athletics. A great role model for young people. Coach Dad is synonymous with community.
Favorite Baseball Player: Rod Carew (Go Twins!)
Go to meal: Tacos
Favorite sport to watch: College basketball
Best Vacation spot: Hawaii
Meet Coach Jena Willis
All-Everything for Glacier High School, Coach Jena Willis is back helping coach baseball and softball with BladesAPA! She pitched and played shortstop for the Wolfpack, Coach Jena received numerous state and junior olympic 1st place finishes with her efforts. Having played college softball and basketball for Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter Minnesota, Coach Jena has the athletic knowledge and prowess to be a fantastic influence on our youth. She now works as Psychologist with young people and wants nothing more than to see baseball and softball flourish in the Flathead. With all her background in athletics, she deems it extremely important to not only sharpen the skills, but also develop strength as athletes. We are lucky to have people like Coach Jena on our staff!
Meet Coach Forrest Kobelt
Born and raised in Whitefish Montana, Coach Forrest was a member of the 2014 regional championship Babe Ruth team, as well as the 2018 Legion regional championship. The left handed pitcher played for the St. Olaf Oles out of Northfield Minnesota and served as a team captain his senior year. After an unusual route through college due to Covid-19, Forrest has moved back to the Flathead Valley and immediately looked to get into baseball. His charisma combined with knowledge and youth make it easy for him to connect with young players. He understands the amount of hours and repetitions it takes to master a skill like pitching, but also gets that the environment needs to be filled with enjoyment. Coach Forrest blends competitiveness, understanding, and preparation to be an elite level coach for youth baseball players.
Favorite candy: Kit Kat
Favorite hobby: Skiing
Favorite baseball team: Red Sox
Fun fact: Never been on a roller coaster
Meet Coach Matt Weger
Coach Matt is a sports junkie and played baseball, football, and basketball growing up. While he loved playing all three sports, he pursued baseball after High School with a scholarship to Tabor College in Kansas. At Tabor, he earned Captain and All-Conference Catcher. After receiving his degree in Accounting, Coach Matt played professionally for the Indy Windstorm. Since hanging up his cleats, he still enjoys flag football, basketball, and softball with friends through Flathead Valley recreational leagues. Outside the lines, he’s coached middle school flag football, middle school basketball, little league baseball, been the Recreation Coordinator for Flathead County, and had the privilege of volunteer coaching the Glacier Range Riders during their inaugural season. Coach Matt currently works as a licensed Real Estate agent and owns a small handyman business, Matt of All Trades. He is always up for new physical and mental challenges and is currently training for his third marathon. Coach Matt learned a lot of valuable life lessons throughout his career playing sports and is a dedicated advocate for sharing those lessons with today’s youth.
Meet Coach Evette Morgan
Coach Evette currently plays Division 1 softball at Stetson University in Florida. We are lucky to have her available for private lessons and to help some of our programs along this summer!
One of her favorite memories playing college softball so far has been breaking up a no hitter with a homerun against the #8 team in the country, Florida Gators. She is in her final year of earning a bachelors degree in Health Sciences while also minoring in Education. Her main goal is to teach athletes the skills and fundamentals, but also emphasize the life lessons, work ethic, and opportunities that come with playing sports.
Favorite Hobby: Hiking with my dog
Favorite Candy: Reeses
Who do you look up to?: My brother, Matthew Morgan
Meet Coach Kyle Yogodzinski
Kids will call him Coach Yogi! Kyle grew up playing baseball, football and basketball originally from Pittsburg and moved to the Flathead as a teen. He played baseball through high school for the Glacier Twins where he was primarily a pitcher and first baseman. Yogi had a devastating curveball that he would use at the most opportune times while a player. He has extensive experience coaching all ages of kids having been a snowboard instructor at Whitefish Mountain Resort the past five winters. When he is not snowboarding or coaching, Kyle likes to watch his Atlanta Braves play baseball! He is excited to get back into coaching with the Flathead A’s!
Teams: Atlanta Braves and the Florida Gators
Hobby : Golf
Meet Coach Murphy Wick
Murphy is a Whitefish native graduating from WHS in 2017. He attended MSU in Bozeman for the next four years before returning home to Whitefish in 2021. His childhood was largely spent watching or playing baseball, basketball, and football. Murphy played Varsity Basketball for WHS and was a captain his senior year. Coach Murph is stoked to get back into sports in a youth coach setting especially in his hometown. You may see Coach Murph around town taking care of our parks in Whitefish as the Head Groundskeeper for the City of Whitefish. In his free time he enjoys hiking, fishing, and skiing in the winter. He is also a season ticket holder the University of Montana Grizzlies…GO GRIZ!
Favorite baseball team: Minnesota Twins
Favorite food: Steak
Player he idolized: Joe Mauer