Meet our Youth
Team Coaches
Liesl G.
Liesl is a dedicated climbing coach with over three years of experience working with athletes of all levels, from first-time climbers to members of the USA Climbing Team. A former USAC youth competitor herself, she brings a deep understanding of the competition circuit and a strong technical foundation to her coaching.
Liesl began her coaching career at MetroRock Vermont, where she served as head coach of the training team. She went on to lead the competition team at Boulders Climbing Gym, also overseeing all youth programs as head coach. Her approach blends years of indoor and outdoor climbing experience, both across the U.S. and internationally, with a personalized, supportive coaching style.
She is committed to helping athletes develop confidence, resilience, and a lifelong love of climbing, whether they’re stepping onto the wall for the first time or striving for elite-level performance.
Advanced/Intermediate Team Coach
Kelsen A.
Kelsen is a former USA Climbing youth competitor with a strong background in competition climbing, having qualified for Nationals three times and participated in numerous events over the years. His firsthand experience makes him a valuable mentor for young athletes navigating the competition scene.
With a focus on keeping climbing fun and engaging, Kelsen brings a positive, growth-oriented mindset to every practice. He’s passionate about helping youth athletes develop not only their climbing skills but also confidence, sportsmanship, and a love for the sport.
Outside of climbing, Kelsen is a semi-professional Ultimate Frisbee player with the Madison Radicals, a former Ultimate coach, and a hobbyist board game designer.
Advanced/Intermediate Team Coach
Ella P.
Ella (she/her) began climbing just over three years ago, but her athletic journey started much earlier. A lifelong athlete, she swam competitively through college at the NCAA level and coached swimmers of all ages along the way. After finishing her final collegiate swim season, a friend introduced her to climbing—and she hasn’t looked back since.
Ella began her climbing coaching career over two years ago at a gym in Michigan and has since coached at various facilities across the Midwest. She is passionate about developing well-rounded climbers and believes in building strength both on and off the wall. With her extensive background in swim training, she brings a broad off-wall workout repertoire that emphasizes injury prevention and balanced, full-body strength.
On the wall, Ella focuses on cultivating smart, efficient climbers by reinforcing strong fundamentals like footwork, resting strategies, and route reading.
In addition to coaching, Ella also works at Greater Heights as a route setter and occasionally behind the front desk. Outside the gym, she enjoys sport climbing, hiking, skiing, biking, and traveling.
Intermediate Team Coach
Courtney C.
Courtney is a recent addition to the Greater Heights Climbing team, bringing with her a passion for youth engagement and a love for climbing. She previously worked at the UW–Stevens Point climbing wall, where she supported the Kids Climb program and enjoyed helping young climbers develop confidence and foundational skills on the wall.
In addition to her climbing background, Courtney has a strong foundation in environmental education and interpretation, gained through her work at the zoo. She’s passionate about creating meaningful connections between people and the natural world, and now brings that same enthusiasm to the climbing gym.
Courtney is excited to combine her experience in youth education with her love for climbing in this new role.
Beginner Team Coach
Michael D.
Michael joins the Greater Heights instructor team with over 20 years of climbing experience. Prior to joining the team, he worked as a climbing instructor at Adventure Rock in the Milwaukee area, where he developed a strong foundation in teaching and mentorship.
Michael is passionate about introducing climbers to the sport and supporting them as they grow—whether they’re taking their first steps off the ground or pushing toward their next breakthrough. His patient, encouraging style helps climbers build confidence and enjoy the process of learning.
Outside the gym, Michael enjoys crafting elaborate meals, training for endurance sports, tinkering with technology, and spending time adventuring with his kids.
Beginner Team Coach