2026 Ultimate Training Camp
Checks should be made payable to:
Athletes in Rochester
P.O. Box 9
Hilton, NY 14468
Emma Brookins
I really wish to attend UTC because of my upbringing in my sport. In gymnastics, you are taught, at a very young age, to be perfect, and that is the only thing that is acceptable. Growing up in such a structured world was hard to get used to. Watching the UTC video, I felt immediately touched and emotional when I heard the pastor speaking about being your own person. Worshipping God has always been something in my life, especially throughout hard times when I had no clue what was going on. I think being able to grow closer with Him – and learning I am MORE than my sport is just the right passage for me. I am so grateful to have a support system that encourages this trip as well. We are really asking sports to do something it is incapable of doing. God is the answer, and turning to him has been the best decision in my life.
Gavin McLaughlin
My name is Gavin McLaughlin, and I am a senior at SUNY Brockport. I will graduate this May with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and over the past 4 years of college, I wrestled for Brockport. I have always believed in God, and I grew up knowing of Him and all of his miracles, but never really had a close relationship with Him. Growing up, I attended a Catholic school, which is where I learned about His greatness, but I never really learned how to build a relationship with Jesus. Ever since coming to First Bible with my friends and teammates, I’ve been learning how to and what it is like to get closer to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I just accepted Christ on March 26!
I want to go on this trip because I love to challenge myself and do hard things, and to deepen my connection with Christ. Even though my college wrestling career ended this February, my athletic career has not ended. I will continue with various athletic activities until God wills me to stop. I want to have fun and learn how to have a better connection with my Lord.
Jordyn Murray
I wish to attend the UTC camp because I would like to understand how to incorporate faith into my sport. Growing up in gymnastics and being in the gym all the time, you are taught to strive to be perfect. With the atmosphere being strict and structured the way it is, it is hard for it not to consume you. It can warp your identity by your athletic performance. Honestly, growing up, it did consume me; I struggled to find who I was and what I lived for. I used to live for gymnastics; that was my purpose. It wasn’t until I got to college, had met Jhan and Gary and their ministry, and surrounded myself with those who are Christians, that I realized that my purpose wasn’t gymnastics, it was living for God. I understand now that I am worth more than my sport.
When I first saw the video for UTC, I got emotional and felt that God was calling me to pursue this opportunity that I had in front of me. It is an opportunity for me to learn how to bring my faith into my sport, an opportunity that only comes around once in your life. I want to explore my faith, and I want to push myself past my limits to see what I am capable of, spiritually, mentally, and physically. Ever since God has entered my life (I received Christ at FBBC in September 2025), I have grown in many ways I never thought I could.
Samuel Zeigler
Hi, I am Samuel Zeigler, and I am currently a Junior at SUNY Brockport, majoring in accounting. While being a full-time student, I am also a part of the wrestling team. Through my experiences on campus, I have been able to spread the gospel to many, and it has been such a blessing. I strive to represent Christ in my daily life and to minister to others through my actions and words. These opportunities have allowed me to reach other students and even professors. And I want to continue to grow as a light for Christ on the SUNY Brockport campus.
Growing up, I was raised in a Christian household, and I established a relationship with the Lord at a very young age. As I got older and my faith got tested, my relationship with the Lord grew even stronger. I have faced numerous challenges as my life has progressed, but these challenges have just been stepping stones to grow my faith in Jesus Christ.
Recently, I have been presented with an opportunity to further grow my faith. This summer, I am excited to participate in the Ultimate Training Camp. This camp will give me a chance to set aside distractions and really focus on my Lord and Savior. I truly believe God has placed this opportunity on my heart as the next step in strengthening my relationship with Him. I am confident that what I will learn and experience at this camp will have a lasting impact on my life. Although this trip comes with a significant financial cost, I trust that it is an important step I am called to take in my walk with the Lord.
Sarah Zupanek
My name is Sarah Zupanek I am an incoming senior at SUNY Brockport for the 26/27 school year. I major in Kinesiology and minor in coaching. I have been a gymnast for 14 years and competed on the SUNY Brockport Division 3 gymnastics team for 2 years. As for my relationship with Christ, I have been a Christian my whole life, but got saved in 2020! Since then, I have gone on 2 mission trips to the Bahamas with Athletes in Rochester and am actively being discipled by co-founder Jhan Sauer.
Just as I have developed a passion for gymnastics, I have found an even greater passion for Jesus Christ! God has used sports in my life to point out that He is the Lord Almighty! He has healed me from a lost identity, heartbreak, and setbacks that were the result of growing up and relying on my sport. Throughout the years, it hasn’t been easy, but God has taught me that this life is so much more than me! This camp is such an amazing opportunity for my teammates and me to dig deeper into our identity in Christ and learn what it means to wholeheartedly lean on Him and trust Him with our lives. I also believe that this opportunity will help me take what I learn at the camp and bring it to others around me, both in and out of sports. This life is so much more than sports, and I believe this camp will further help me live out God’s will of spreading the gospel and my testimony to all kinds of people!
Checks should be made payable to:
Athletes in Rochester
P.O. Box 9
Hilton, NY 14468