Meet the Coaches

Ryan Cheek is the owner and director of Momentum Athletic Performance. He credits his wife, Leah, as the reason this dream became a reality, and their five children (Paris, Kylie, Mikey, Clara, and Darcy) all train in Momentum's youth training groups too.

Growing up in Lancaster, Ohio with parents highly involved in athletics, Ryan played everything he could: football, basketball, baseball, track, even swimming and bowling. He firmly believes well-rounded athletes play multiple sports, and that belief shapes how every group at Momentum trains.

His junior year of high school, Ryan committed to play linebacker at NC State University, where he became a 3-year letterman and a member of the Leadership Council. Four hip labrum surgeries across his senior year of high school and redshirt freshman season forced him to spend extensive time with training and strength staff, giving him a deep understanding of training methodology across three different strength coaching systems.

A year removed from college, Ryan trained at NC State's pro-day under Director of Strength and Conditioning Dantonio Burnette, who took the time to explain WHY he programmed things: energy systems, rep schemes, speed techniques. That experience, combined with his family's background in athletics, set Ryan on his path to training student athletes.

Following a stint in the Canadian Football League, where he was invited to Rookie Camp with the Montreal Alouettes, and years as a pit crew jackman for Hendrick Motorsports on the NASCAR circuit, Ryan moved home to teach and coach. He has coached football at the high school and college level, coached high school basketball, and served as head strength coach for a high school football program. Momentum exists to give every athlete in the Columbus, OH area, from a 7-year-old just starting out to a senior preparing for college, the same quality of training he was lucky enough to receive.

Coach Simon is a lifelong athlete, educator, and performance coach with a passion for developing speed, strength, and confidence in athletes of all ages.

A graduate of Sheridan High School, Simon excelled in football, basketball, and track, earning All-Ohio honors as a sprinter. He continued his athletic career at Miami University, where he competed as a Division I sprinter, specializing in the 400m and relay events. He remains the school record holder in the 4x400-meter relay.

Following his collegiate career, Simon gained valuable coaching experience as a Strength and Conditioning intern at Miami University, helping train collegiate athletes in running mechanics, speed development, and strength programming. He later served as a graduate assistant sprint coach at Ohio University, continuing to develop athletes at the collegiate level.

Simon has earned certifications as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the NSCA and a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer, giving him a strong foundation in evidence-based athletic performance and long-term athlete development. His passion for physical and mental resilience extends beyond coaching, having completed multiple 100-mile ultramarathons and the entire Appalachian Trail.

Today, Simon serves as an elementary physical education teacher at Logan Hocking Schools while continuing to coach and mentor young athletes. He believes that sports provide an opportunity to build confidence, character, and resilience, and is passionate about helping every athlete reach their full potential through quality movement, speed development, strength training, and positive coaching relationships.

Simon and his wife, Amy, live in the Bloom-Carroll community with their three children, Hudson, Vivienne, and Gideon. Together, they are excited to help build a strong community where athletes can grow both on and off the field.