Exercise Science Symposium Speakers

Tyler Travis, MS, CSCS, RSCC
Tyler Travis is in his 11th season as the strength and conditioning coach for Mercyhurst University’s men’s and women’s ice hockey programs and serves as the director of strength and conditioning for all 25 varsity sports. With more than 15 years of experience training athletes at the professional, collegiate, high school, and youth levels, he brings a results-driven, athlete-centered approach focused on performance development and long-term athletic success.

In addition to his role at Mercyhurst, Tyler is the owner and director of Erie Sports Now Fitness & Performance Center at LECOM Sports Park, where he oversees performance training for athletes of all levels, develops long-term athletic development pathways, and leads sports performance clinics across multiple regional locations. Most recently, he expanded programming to include seven Edinboro University athletic teams.

Tyler also serves in a strength and conditioning role with USA Hockey’s National Player Development Camps. He has led performance combines for the Erie Otters OHL orientation and training camps and recently completed his second NHL Development Camp with the New York Rangers. His professional background also includes working with the NBA G-League’s Erie BayHawks.

A native of Erie, Pa., Tyler earned his B.S. from Penn State Behrend and his M.S. in Exercise Physiology from Minnesota State University, Mankato. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach (RSCC), and holds additional credentials as an ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist, EXOS Performance Specialist, FRC Mobility Specialist, as well as certifications in Functional Movement Screening and USA Weightlifting.

Tyler is passionate about building high-performance systems that align with sport demands, enhance athlete durability, and support sustainable athletic development.

Cara Colley, PT, DPT
Cara Colley is a licensed physical therapist with over 10 years of experience in pediatric and neurologic-based care. She currently works at the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children, providing therapy to children with complex medical needs, and at Forbes Hospital, treating adults in the acute and sub-acute rehabilitation settings.

Cara earned a B.S. in Biology from Grove City College, with a dual major in Spanish and a minor in Exercise Science. She then received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Slippery Rock University. She has experience across a variety of clinical environments, including both adult and pediatric outpatient, home health, inpatient rehabilitation, and acute care. An active contributor to professional development and outreach, Cara has served as a panelist and alumna mentor for Grove City College’s Exercise Science program. In her spare time, Cara enjoys marathon training, playing with her nephews, traveling, and performing live music at local venues.

Sam Arnold, MS, CSCS, CSPS, CES, PES, FRCms
Sam Arnold is a coach and educator with over 15 years of experience in fitness, coach development, and communication. As Education & Training Director at SHAPE Training in Pittsburgh, he leads the design of evidence-based programs and mentorship systems that merge performance, psychology, and practical coaching application.

Sam also facilitates with Art of Coaching, helping professionals strengthen how they lead, communicate, and connect in high-performance environments. His work emphasizes the integration of physical and mental resilience—bridging the gap between strength training and real-world adaptability.

He has presented for the National Strength and Conditioning Association, including the 2024 Pennsylvania State Clinic and the upcoming 2025 Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference, and is known for delivering engaging, actionable sessions that connect science, storytelling, and skill development.

Randall L. Wilber, PhD, FACSM
Randy Wilber is a senior sport physiologist at the US Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs and has worked at the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) for 32 years. In that position, he works closely with Team USA athletes and coaches in the areas of altitude training, heat/humidity acclimatization, blood chemistry analysis, overtraining, international air travel (jet lag), and environment-induced asthma. Wilber has been privileged to work closely with several US Olympic medalists including Michael Phelps, Katie Ledecky, Torri Huske, Missy Franklin, Allison Schmitt, Chase Kalisz, Ryan Murphy, Conor Dwyer and Ryan Lochte from USA Swimming, as well as Grant Fisher, Meb Keflezighi, Shalane Flanagan, Galen Rupp, Donavan Brazier, Matthew Centrowitz, Evan Jager, Emma Coburn, Jenny Simpson, Courtney Frerichs, Paul Chelimo, Leo Manzano, and Deena Kastor from USA Track & Field. In USA Triathlon, he has worked with Olympic medalists Gwen Jorgensen and Susan Williams, and World Champions Barb Lindquist, Sheila Taormina, Siri Lindley and Hunter Kemper. In total during his career, Wilber has worked with 88 Olympians (15 sports) who have earned over 200 “individual” medals, as well as other Olympians who have earned six “team” medals. In addition, he has worked with 38 Winter Olympians (eight sports) who have earned over 75 “individual” medals, as well as other Winter Olympians who have earned three “team” medals. Wilber has been a member of the official delegation of Team USA at six Olympics (Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio de Janeiro 2016, Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024); six Winter Olympics (Salt Lake City 2002, Torino 2006, Vancouver 2010, Sochi 2014, PyeongChang 2018, Beijing 2022); two Pan American Games (Santo Domingo 2003, Rio de Janeiro 2007) and multiple World Championships.

In the area of scholarship, Wilber has authored over 35 papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals and has written over 15 book chapters in the areas of sports medicine and sport science. He has authored the book Altitude Training and Athletic Performance (Human Kinetics 2004) and co-authored Exercise-Induced Asthma: Pathophysiology and Treatment (Human Kinetics 2002). Wilber has been an invited speaker at professional conferences held in over 30 countries across six continents. In addition, he serves as a consultant to the U.S. Navy SEALs on issues related to combat performance at high altitude. Wilber was recognized as a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) in 1998 and served as Chair of the ACSM Olympic/Paralympic Sports Medicine and Sport Science Committee (2010-2020). In 2022, he was recognized by ACSM with the Citation Lifetime Achievement Award, presented in recognition of a distinguished career and meaningful contributions in the areas of sports medicine and/or sport science. Wilber was recently appointed as a Full Professor in the Department of Human Physiology & Nutrition at the University of Colorado – Colorado Springs.

Wilber earned a B.A. degree in History from Grove City College and holds a M.A. in History from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Integrative Physiology from Florida State University. In 2005, Wilber received the Centennial Laureate Alumni Award from Florida State University, and in 2007 he received the President’s Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. In 2011, Wilber was inducted into the inaugural class of the Franklin High School Hall of Fame. In 2013, he received the Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award from Grove City College. Wilber received the USOPC Doc Counsilman Science and Technology Award in 2022, named in honor of James “Doc” Counsilman, PhD, recognized by many as the greatest swimming coach ever based on his highly successful tenure at Indiana University and as coach of multiple US Olympic Teams.

Originally from the Pittsburgh area, Wilber spent most of his adult life in Florida prior to moving to Colorado Springs in 1993. He has been involved in sports his entire life as an athlete and coach in Cross-Country and Track, and as a Sport Physiologist. A recoveree from open-heart surgery (2012), Wilber is dedicated to the promotion of optimal cardiac health through his own hiking and cycling in the Rocky Mountains, as well as supporting the annual Heart Run and Heart Ball events in Colorado Springs. Currently in partial remission from Stage-4 NSCL cancer (2018), Wilber also mentors several cancer patients, and contributes to cancer research via the “Jimmy V Foundation.”