Staff

Monty Merrill

PT, MS, OCS, FAAOMPT - Owner

Monty is a Physical Therapist with over 20 years of clinical experience. Monty has worked with athletes from school age to Olympic and professional levels. Monty brings a vast knowledge of core training, power, speed, and balance development to the PUMP Institute. All of which create an optimal environment for maximizing athletic potential.

Lauri Merrill

PT, MS - Owner

Lauri Merrill, PT, received her BA degree from UC Santa Barbara in 1981 and her Masters Degree in Physical Therapy from USC in 1984. As the mother of a runner, a rower, and a swimmer, Lauri has developed a passion for helping athletes succeed. Lauri desires for every athlete to understand how to prevent injuries and safely participate in their sport.

Danielle Sartori

PT, DPT, CSCS - Physical Therapist and Sports Performance Director

Danielle has been working with Lodi Physical Therapy since November of 2006.  She made the move to Lodi Physical Therapy’s PUMP Institute in June of 2010 as the lead Physical Therapist and Sports Performance Director.

Danielle graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Sports Medicine in 2004 and received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2006 from the University of the Pacific.  As an athlete herself, she has always had a passion for improving athletic performance, drawing from years of experience in sports.  She participated in a wide variety of sports, including soccer (13 years), swimming (17 years), and water polo (15 years).  Danielle earned a scholarship to play water polo at UOP and continues to play today in masters tournaments.  She is also a tri-athlete, completing four triathlons in the past two years.

Danielle volunteers as a coach for the women’s water polo team and is the team physical therapist at UOP.  She is certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist, training athletes from recreational to the professional level.

She is an active member of the University of the Pacific’s Physical Therapy Alumni Board, the American Physical Therapy Association, the American College of Sports Medicine, and the National Strength and Conditioning Association.  

Tel Byars

Sports Performance Coach/Personal Trainer/Aide

Tel Byars graduated from Lodi High School in 2007. He is currently attending Consumnes River College to become a Physical Therapy Assistant. He played varsity football and won the SJAA Championship as a member the Lodi High track team. Tel is also a sponsored skateboarder and has skated for 9 years. He enjoys fitness and is passionate about learning new training techniques to not only improve his own body but to help others reach their physical goals. While his real passion is coaching youth's, his strong belief that being fit is the key to a happy and healthy lifestyle is what drives him to help everyone push themselves to greatness.

Stephen Anthony

Sports Performance Coach/Personal Trainer/Aide

Stephen moved to the United States in 2010 and became certified as a Personal Trainer with The International Sports Sciences Association. He grew up in New Zealand where he enjoyed being involved in a wide array of sports and fitness activities. These included the national game of rugby and his favored sports, soccer and basketball. Stephen is passionate about fitness and takes great pleasure in guiding and motivating others towards achieving their own fitness goals.

Becky Weiss

Director of Communications/Clerical/Aide

Becky graduated from Lodi High School in 2004. She is currently attending Sacramento City College to prepare for the Physical Therapy Assistant program. She takes joy in seeing people/patients gain strength and recover from their injuries. Outside of work Becky enjoys recreational cycling, hiking and photography.