About
South Tampa Personal Training
Our team of fitness and nutrition professionals are invested in your health. We make every decision with our members’ well-being in mind. Achieve your goals with us!
The Team
CJ Vila
OWNER/OPERATOR, COACH
CJ Vila has been a local in the Tampa Bay area for over a decade now. He received his undergraduate and masters degrees from the University of South Florida (Go Bulls). Coming from a competitive soccer and baseball background, CrossFit gave CJ the opportunity to push himself both physically and mentally just as he did playing competitive levels of sports.
CJ was a Grid athlete on the 2017 and 2019 Championship Team Tampa Bay Brigade and has been coaching and programming for the past several years. CJ has a passion for fitness and wellness, especially for longevity. One of his favorite things is fitnessing with friends for time.
Certifications:
CrossFit L1
CrossFit L2
CrossFit Weightlifting
Mike Vansant
Head Coach
Michael is originally from Cape Coral and has been lifting weights since age 11. He has been coaching CrossFit since 2015, and over the years has grown tremendously and developed a real talent for accessing his athletes’ abilities and tailoring his approach to training accordingly. He has an easy disposition and a keen eye for correcting movements to make athletes more efficient.
Certifications:
CrossFit L1
CrossFit L2
CrossFit L3
USAW Sports Performance Coach
Joel Stephens
Coach
Joel comes to us with over 13 years of experience in coaching and personal training. Joel began coaching at Phase 5 Fitness and subsequently owned two separate CrossFit affiliates–Rebirth Fitness and one run out of the Birmingham YMCA. The years and breadth of Joel’s experience have made him exceptional at identifying issues with and correcting movement. Joel takes time to get to know his athletes, their personal goals and limitations, and is excellent at tailoring workouts to meet their needs.
Certifications:
USAW Sport Performance Coach
CrossFit L1
CrossFit L2
CrossFit Endurance Coach
Former US Army PT Instructor
Mike Hernandez
Coach
Michael is a military veteran with an extensive sports and athletics background. He completed 10 years of service in the Marine Corps and received a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Miami. it is no surprise where Michael gets his passion for strength and performance training from. Competing 4 years as a Professional Strongman.
With over a decade of experience coaching groups and individuals of all ages and levels, Michael has a passion for training adaptive athletes and people with limitations. Michael spends his off hours Surfing, Yoga, BJJ and Acro.
Certifications:
CSCS
EMT-P
CF L1
CF L2
CF Adaptive
200hr RYT
Westside Barbell Conjugate Trainer
Mobility WOD Adaptive Trainer
Breanna Priester
Coach
Breanna (Bre as you’ll hear most people call her in the gym) started CrossFit in 2015 training for her off season when she played Volleyball in high school. She always had a passion for fitness and helping others to achieve their goals. She started at STC as a summer intern when she graduated college at Mary Baldwin University in Virginia May 2022. She saw the opportunity and pursued her CrossFit L-1.
Bre comes from a military family background so she enjoys meeting and connecting with new people. She’s excited to spread her passion for fitness and healthy lifestyle with others.
Certifications:
CF-L1
Courtney Tonge
Coach
Courtney found her love for CrossFit as an athlete in 2017. She spent most of her younger years into college playing competitive soccer. Like many other athletes who have left a sport for a while, Courtney was in search of a team-like atmosphere but most importantly missed having a community. Courtney decided to become a CrossFit coach in 2018 and achieved her level 2 as well as her certified personal trainer certification in the following years. Community at South Tampa CrossFit is key and Courtney loves giving the compassion and training that first had her fall in love with the sport back to her athletes.
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Take the first step.
We can’t wait to meet you
Chat with a coach at South Tampa Personal Training to learn more about what program will fit your goals.