Our Coaches
Lucas Palker - Owner | Performance Coach | Soccer Coach | Wrestling Coach
Lucas Palker is the Owner and Operator of Palker Sports Performance LLC. A graduate of Hopewell Valley Central High School, Lucas excelled in varsity soccer and wrestling, further enhancing his athletic career by playing collegiate soccer.
Lucas's educational background includes studies in Exercise Science at Mercer County Community College, Fisheries and Wildlife Science at Paul Smith's College, numerous certifications from the National Association of Sports Medicine and Lucas's education was further enriched through studies in Applied Functional Science.
With 11 years of experience in personal and group training, Lucas has developed a deep understanding of athlete performance. His career as a youth soccer trainer spans 7 years, and he has served as a Head Coach in youth soccer for 5 years where he won numerous tournaments across various age groups as well as a youth soccer state cup championship.
For the past 3 years, he has successfully managed and operated Palker Sports Performance LLC. During these 3 years, Palker Sports Performance has been an integral part in building athletic and educational programs at multiple schools and sports clubs in the NJ area.
Over the last 3 years, Lucas has also been the Strength and Conditioning Coach with The Pennington School’s Boys Varsity Soccer. His accolades with this elite team include helping to secure 2 County Titles, 2 MAPL Titles, 2 State Titles, and achieving a National Championship ranking.
In addition to The Pennington School, Lucas served as the Director of Sports Performance at Next Level Soccer Academy (NLSA). Here, Lucas contributed to elevating athletic performance in hundreds of young athletes for 3 years. While at NLSA, Lucas also excelled as the Director of Camps and Clinics for 1 year.
Lucas’s professional experience in athletics continues to his role as the Personal, Social and Physical Education teacher at The Princeton Junior School. Lucas has been with the school for 3 years where he continues to inspire, mentor and educate young students and athletes.
Overall, Lucas receives the most fulfillment though helping young athletes advance their careers to the collegiate level. He has helped dozens of athletes in their journey to reach the college level across various sports, including soccer, tennis, wrestling, track and field, and football. With a commitment to excellence and a profound understanding of sports performance, Lucas Palker continues to inspire, educate, and elevate athletes to reach their highest potential.
Peyton Miller - Fitness Trainer | Tennis Coach
Peyton Miller has been involved in sports for most of his life, competing in various sports such as soccer, basketball, and track and field, with tennis as his primary focus. Peyton began his own personal structured strength training during covid, which he realized not only elevated his athletic performance, but also built confidence and reinforced his interest in fitness and physical development.
That experience shaped his approach to training today. Peyton is passionate about helping athletes, especially tennis players, improve performance while reducing their risk of injury. Peyton also works with individuals who are not sport-focused but want to improve their physique, lose weight, gain muscle, or simply feel stronger and healthier. His goal is to help people not only enjoy the training process, but see real results they can be happy with
Peyton holds an Associate’s degree in Exercise Science and is currently pursuing his Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology at The College of New Jersey, where he also plays on the Tennis Team.
With his athletic experience, formal education, and a genuine passion for training, Peyton brings an approachable but performance-driven mindset to every client he works with, whether the goals is performance or building strength and confidence.
Austin Roell – Fitness Trainer | Kickboxing Coach | Soccer Coach | Youth Mentor
Austin Roell is a dedicated fitness trainer, soccer coach, and mentor with a passion for inspiring the next generation of athletes. A graduate of Hopewell Valley Central High School, Austin was a standout goalkeeper, earning three varsity letters and being named CVC Goalkeeper of the Year twice. After high school, he pursued a degree in criminal justice at Mercer County Community College, following his early dream of becoming a police officer. But along the way, fitness took over—in the best way possible.
Over the past 3.5 years, Austin has immersed himself in the world of kickboxing and speed & agility training. His experience includes teaching youth kickboxing classes, leading adult group fitness sessions, and providing one-on-one mitt training. Known for his high energy and motivating coaching style, Austin brings a fun, challenging, and results-driven approach to every session. His favorite compliment? When clients say it's the best cardio workout they've ever had—quick, effective, and empowering.
Austin is also a passionate soccer coach and goalkeeper trainer. He has coached for HVSA for four years, spanning various age groups, including 8-9-year-old boys, middle school girls, and high school boys. He is currently part of the Hopewell Valley High School soccer coaching staff, where he continues to develop and mentor athletes both on and off the field. With his deep knowledge of the goalkeeper position and focus on speed and agility, Austin is committed to helping players reach their full potential.
Driven by the belief that “If you want to change things in a big way, then you gotta make some big changes” (Rocky), Austin’s mission is to help others fall in love with fitness and become the best version of themselves. He takes pride in being a role model for young athletes, bringing enthusiasm, accountability, and a contagious love for hard work to every training session.
Whether you're a young athlete chasing big goals or someone looking to jumpstart your fitness journey, Austin is ready to bring the energy, knowledge, and support you need to level up.
Ryan Butcavage - Wrestling Coach
Ryan Butcavage embarked on his wrestling career in the sixth grade at Timberlane
Middle School. Despite entering the sport at a relatively late age, he quickly
demonstrated remarkable aptitude, achieving an undefeated record in his third season
of wrestling. Ryan subsequently earned four Varsity letters while competing for the
Hopewell Valley Bulldogs from 2013 to 2017. During his high school tenure, he
consistently placed in County and District tournaments for all four years, garnered three
Iron Man awards, and served as Team Captain in his senior year. He concluded his high
school wrestling career with an impressive 92 Varsity wins and 65 pins, setting a school
record.
Ryan continued his academic and athletic pursuits at Castleton University, where he
graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in the Practice of Physical
Education. During his collegiate wrestling career, he was recognized as a 3-time NEWA
All-Academic Team wrestler. In addition to his athletic achievements, Ryan also
demonstrated leadership and versatility by serving as President of both the Rock
Climbing and Disc Golf clubs.
Currently, Ryan is a dedicated educator, teaching Physical Education and Health at The
Bridge Academy in Lawrenceville, NJ. He also continues to contribute to the wrestling
community as the Head Coach of the Timberlane Middle School Wrestling Team.
Ryan has a love for the sport of wrestling and a desire to help young athletes develop
their skills to advance to their highest potential.
Services
Personal Training
Group Training
Team Training
Assessment
Sports Nutrition Coaching
Physical Education
Camps and Clinics
Teams/Clubs/Schools
Hopewell Tennis and Swim Center
Next Level Soccer Academy