Competitive Edge instructors are what make our programs unique – and effective! Their experience, deep knowledge base of multiple sports and proven teaching methods deliver optimal results. Many of our programs combine the expertise of more than one of our skating specialists and instructors.
Jennifer Matras, CSCS, Owner & Head Skating Coach
Jim McKee, MS, CSCS, Head Strength & Conditioning Coach
Scott Nelson, Skating Skills Instructor
Larry Lauer, Ph.D., Sports Psychology Consultant
Lisa M. Lutchka R.D., Registered Dietician, Sports Nutrition Consultant
Jennifer Matras, CSCS, Owner & Head Skating Coach
With over 25 years of skating and training experience, Jennifer Matras is a highly sought after skill development instructor and owner of Competitive Edge Skating, Inc. (C.E.S.). C.E.S. is the result of Jennifer’s commitment and passion to developing a company where athletes are provided everything they need to reach their highest level of performance. As a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) by the National Strength and Conditioning Association and an Exercise Physiologist, Jennifer has personally developed athletes to reach world-class levels.
Born and raised in Redford Township, Michigan, Jennifer began skating at the age of 3 at the Detroit Skating Club in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. She had a successful competitive figure skating career spanning 14 years that included regional championships, along with national competitions.
Jennifer’s coaching career began at the age of 18 at Redford Ice Arena where she helped with the basic skills program and power skating program. She taught one-on-one and group lessons and helped develop and lead conditioning skates for hockey teams.
In 1998, Jennifer became an instructor at Suburban Hockey schools in Farmington Hills, Michigan where she developed a weekly beginner and advanced power skating program for local hockey players.
Jennifer has worked as a guest instructor for the Gordan “Red” Berenson summer camps, as a guest instructor for the U-17 and U-18 USA Hockey National Development Teams in Ann Arbor, Michigan, as an instructor for Keil Power Skating Schools in Chelsea, Michigan, and has been providing team and individual instruction for hockey players from Mini-Mite to professional level.
After many years of providing on ice instruction to hockey players, Jennifer enrolled in the Sports Medicine program at Eastern Michigan University and graduated as an Exercise Physiologist and Nationally Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist in June of 2005.
In 2005, Jennifer started Competitive Edge Skating & Strength Training and expanded the fully-equipped off-ice training facility in Kensington Valley Ice House. Jennifer and her staff have helped many Varsity and Junior Varsity teams win regional and national Championship titles.
Jennifer’s success comes from helping her students understand the importance and the rewards that ongoing training brings. Jennifer aims to help each athlete move up the ranks by providing unique drills and exercises that help improve balance, speed, coordination, agility and overall body control. These key skills enable athletes – in any sport – to dominate in their game, make more difficult plays, and become more valuable to their team. Jennifer’s training can play an essential role in developing an athlete’s career.
Jennifer’s training methods also help develop self-confidence and positive personal development in those she trains. Athletes at C.E.S. learn how to set goals, to develop good leadership qualities, and to make better choices. Jennifer and her players are involved in local charity programs, including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Back-to-School Backpacks for low-income families, and local ministries.
In her free time, Jennifer continues to challenge herself with continued fitness training, education, hockey, biking, and running. She enjoys reading and spending time with friends, family and her dog Romans Chapter 12 (named for her favorite Bible chapter).
Jennifer Matras is available as a motivational speaker. Contact her by phone at 248-752-4470 or email for more information.
Jim McKee, MS, CSCS, Head Strength & Conditioning Coach
Jim McKee began his career at C.E.S as a trainer at our 2006 and 2007 Summer Hockey Training Programs. He has dedicated himself to advanced fitness and weight training education and currently serves as Head Strength and Conditioning Coach with responsibilities for developing, coordinating and running our performance facility and off-ice training programs.
Jim holds a Master of Science Degree in Exercise Physiology and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).
Prior experience includes work as a Graduate Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at Eastern Michigan University (2007-2009). Jim has extensive experience training athletes at all levels – from professional, collegiate, high school/youth and beginner – in a variety of sports including football, men’s basketball, women’s volleyball, baseball, softball, wrestling, women’s soccer, men’s and women’s golf, women’s tennis, and women’s gymnastics.
“Our strength coaching system is a great opportunity to apply science and passion in a way that helps people become more physically capable to perform in sports and to live a better, healthier life,” Jim explains. “Above all, it’s a chance to show people what their true potential is through hard work and determination. Being able to look back and see what each person accomplishes is the best feeling in the world.”
Jim continues, “From the science aspect of it, there is so much more to understand and discover in this relatively young field. It’s a field that is always advancing, and that keeps my job exciting.” Jim stays ahead of the latest fitness trends and often will present documentation and research to dispute myths believed by athletes.
When not training teams or teaching his conditioning/fitness classes, Jim enjoys bow hunting in southeast Michigan, salmon and steelhead fishing in the Pere Marquette River, dirt bike riding in northern Michigan and spending time with family.
Scott Nelson, Skating Skills Instructor
Scott Nelson’s expertise in hockey skating comes from more than 15 years of experience as a hockey player and as a member of several championship-winning teams. Scott has been teaching hockey skating skills since 2007. He was hand-selected by Jennifer Matras to develop a more comprehensive skating and shot performance program at C.E.S.
Scott excelled on the Brighton Varsity Hockey Team for three seasons, serving as Captain for the 2006/07 team. He was named all league and all area his senior year. His Division I High School team claimed 3 league titles, 2 regional titles and one State Championship.
In addition to his instruction at Competitive Edge Skating, Scott is the Assistant Coach for the current Brighton JV Hockey team and is respected as a valuable resource for their program.
Scott currently attends Lansing Community College with aspirations to transfer to Michigan State to Major in English and Spanish.
Larry Lauer, Ph.D., Sports Psychology Consultant
Larry is currently the Director of Coaching Education and Development in the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports (ISYS) at Michigan State University. His role involves working closely with the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) and Think Detroit PAL to conduct high-quality coaching education programs, training instructors, evaluating the program’s effectiveness, and developing curricular materials. In addition, Larry conducts cutting-edge youth sport research at the ISYS and develops resources for youth sport organizations, parents, athletes, coaches, and administrators. For instance, Larry has worked with USA Tennis to develop junior parent education presentations on getting started as a junior tennis parent and developing your child’s talent. Also, he has spearheaded the development of a book of mental skills and drills for junior tennis. At this same time, Larry completed a Ph. D. in Exercise and Sport Science, specializing in sport psychology, at the University of North Carolina Greensboro.
Larry has been consulting with athletes on performance enhancement and personal development issues for the past 10 years. He has worked with athletes from a variety of sports including tennis, ice hockey, soccer, basketball, cross country, swimming, figure skating, volleyball, gymnastics, and baseball. These male and female athletes have ranged from youth to collegiate to professional in their experience. Larry is the sport psychology consultant for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Larry has been very involved in youth ice hockey in performance enhancement and reducing aggressive play. He has created a “Playing Tough and Clean Hockey Program” to help players develop emotional toughness and avoid dirty play on the ice. This Program is now being disseminated to youth hockey coaches through a partnership with the Michigan Amateur Hockey Association. Larry also has worked a great deal with coaches and parents providing educational presentations and resources, and private consulting. This includes The Hockey Edge Newsletter that is sent quarterly to hockey players, parents, coaches, administrators and sport psychologists. Larry conducts coaching clinics throughout the state of Michigan for high school and youth sport coaches, and parent education workshops.
Larry has 9 years experience instructing in the USA Hockey Coaching Education Program and has been presented at USTA High Performance Coaching workshops. A former coach of baseball, hockey, tennis, and basketball, Larry has also received USA Hockey’s Advanced Level coaching certification. Larry served as hockey director for over two years in Philadelphia/South Jersey and Charlotte, NC. Specifically, he worked for the Philadelphia Flyers rink development department and Flyers Skate Zone for 14 months as a community youth ice hockey director.
Contact Larry at by email at lauerl@msu.edu or by phone at his office (517) 353-5395.
Watch the Video “Rebuilding Confidence” featuring Larry Lauer
Lisa M. Lutchka R.D., Registered Dietician, Sports Nutrition Consultant
Competitive Edge Skating believes that proper nutrition can have a positive effect on an athlete’s ability to perform at their best. We collaborate with Registered Dietician Lisa Lutchka to help develop dietary guidelines for our clients as well as presenting workshops on nutrition.
Lisa holds a B.S. in Dietetics from Eastern Michigan University (1992). She has more than 12 years of experience with counseling and clinical nutrition education.
Lisa has been a faculty member of the Dietetics program at EMU since 2001 and also serves as an Instructor for Nutrition Therapy and Sports Nutrition at the University. In addition, Lisa works as a Registered Dietician for Community Hospital Health and Wellness Center located in Chelsea, Michigan.
Lisa is currently pursuing Master’s Degree in Exercise Physiology at EMU.
