Our Philosphy
Contender Athletics began with an aligned passion to emphasize skill development individually and as a team. We believe players need to train with a purpose and a goal. We meet players where they are at to develop and grow their individual skills through hard work and discipline in way that pushes them and others to be better each day. This is done through an enthusiastic culture and tenured coaches that help participants not only learn skills in athletics but also for life.
Our Coaches
With decades of combined experience, Coaches Grant Vander Ark and Pete Silvestri are joined by a talented staff of tenured coaches who have coached at the high school and national levels, are current and former high school coaches, and bring the perspective of former high-level players. Many are actively coaching competitive teams today. This collective expertise ensures athletes receive high-level instruction grounded in real-game experience, along with the personal mentorship necessary for long-term growth. All coaches have deep roots in the game and a shared philosophy centered on teaching fundamentals, fostering competitive mindsets, and building a strong team culture.
Together, the staff offers a unique balance of elite competition experience, coaching acumen, and a passion for teaching the game the right way—creating an environment where players can thrive both on and off the court.
Coach Grant Vander Ark
- Grew up learning the game from his father, a longtime high school coach
- Collegiate athlete
- Began coaching in 2009, 13 years of coaching experience
- Assisted a 20+ win season under Hall of Fame coach Ziggy Kauls
- Coached feeder and AAU teams across the Chicago suburbs
- 5 seasons on staff at Stevenson High School under IBCA Hall of Fame Coach Pat Ambrose
- Helped team win 2015 IHSA 4A State Championship
- Contributed to back-to-back 30+ win seasons at Stevenson
Coach Pete Silvestri
- Began playing basketball at age 7, Libertyville High School Graduate ‘02
- Basketball: All-Conference, All-Area, All-State Honorable Mention
- Volleyball: All-Conference, All-Area
- Collegiate athlete
- Began coaching in 2007, 18 years of coaching experience
- Coached national-level AAU teams on the NY2LA circuit
- Worked with multiple feeder programs across the North Shore and Western Suburbs
Coach Dan Casey
- 2-Sport High School Athlete
- Collegiate Athlete
- 10 years as a High School Coach
- 15 years of coaching 2 High School sports, both reaching the Elite 8
- Feeder Basketball Coach
- Slammers Baseball Coach
- Head Coach - 8th Grade Lady Cats 2025, led team to programs first State Championship
- Passionate about the process of helping athletes get better
Coach Ryan Frankel
- 6 years of coaching experience (AAU, High School, Feeder)
Currently coaching High School Basketball and Volleyball
Played collegiate basketball & volleyball
- Favorite part of coaching: watching players grow individually and as a team
Coach Griffin Pils
- Libertyville High School Graduate (2012)
- 3-Sport Athlete (Basketball, Soccer, Tennis)
- 2012 All-Conference, All-Area, All-Sate Honorable Mention
- Collegiate Basketball: Augustana College
- 2015 National Runner Up
- 2016 Elite 8
- Coached for multiple basketball camps and skill trainers, 3rd Grade - College
Coach Jeff Beck
- Grew up in Chicago suburbs; began playing organized basketball at 7
- 3-year varsity player at Dundee Crown HS; 1,000+ points, 4th place state finish (2009)
- Played at Lake Forest College
- 4-year starter
- Top 15 in program history in scoring, assists, and 3-pointers
- Coached at Lake Forest College Youth Basketball Camp (100+ kids annually, 3rd–8th grade)
Coach Eric Levernier
- 2 year varsity starter at Mundelein High School.
- All-Area captain as a senior year.
- Inducted to Mundelein Hall of Fame for basketball.
- Played at Dominican University
- Have helped with multiple skills camps over many years and current JCATs Coach
- Passionate about developing players skills and teaching them the techniques to help them maximize their potential.
- Favorite part of coaching: sharing the knowledge and tricks of the trade learned from working with many coaches and playing over many years.
Coach Laura Buerstatte
- Raised in Indiana with a deep basketball background; taught the game by her father
- Passionate about skill development, confidence building, and having fun
- Believes basketball teaches teamwork, discipline, and character
- Proud mom of 3 boys and dedicated to growing the next generation
Nutrition Coach – Daniel Mattson
- Former collegiate football Safety
- University of Missouri graduate – B.S. in Health Science
- NASM-certified personal trainer with 9 years of experience
- Expertise in fitness coaching, programming, and nutrition planning
- Helped hundreds of athletes increase lean mass, decrease body fat, and boost performance
- Co-owns Awards & Engraving in Libertyville with wife Bailey; passionate about community