MEET OUR TEAM
TONY SANDBOTHE
Strength & Conditioning Coach | Results-Driven Mentor
For over two decades, Tony Sandbothe has been a trusted leader in strength and conditioning, personally coaching more than 60,000 one-on-one training sessions. His impact on the fitness industry has been recognized with back-to-back Consumer Choice Awards for Personal Training in Portland—the only two years the award has been offered in the region. But Tony’s success isn’t just about accolades; it’s about his relentless commitment to helping people build strength, confidence, and long-term health.
Tony’s journey is deeply personal. He understands the challenges of weight management not as an abstract concept but as a lived experience. Having grown up in a family affected by severe obesity, he made a life-changing decision after being cut from his high school basketball team for being "too fat." That moment ignited a passion for transformation, leading him to lose 100 pounds as a teenager—a process he has repeated multiple times throughout his life. Through these experiences, he developed a profound understanding of weight loss and fitness as a lifelong commitment, not a temporary fix. His philosophy treats obesity and weight management much like addiction: a condition requiring structure, consistency, and a science-based approach rather than gimmicks or quick-fix trends.
Tony’s training philosophy is built on principles, not fads. He believes strength and conditioning are rooted in physics, biomechanics, biochemistry, and anatomy—not in fleeting diets or social media trends. He does not promote short-term transformations, restrictive meal plans, or buzzword-driven fitness programs. Instead, he tailors each client’s approach based on proven science and sustainable habits. Whether working with professional athletes, individuals recovering from severe injuries, or those simply looking to regain control over their health, Tony ensures each client receives a program that is personalized, results-driven, and built for longevity.
His dedication to lifelong learning is unmatched. Tony holds an extensive list of elite certifications, including:
Strength & Conditioning: NSCA CPT, W.I.T.S. CPT, ACE CPT, Strength Systems International (Levels 1, 2, 3)
Specialized Training: Westside Barbell Special Strength Coach, Starting Strength Coach, RKC, USAW Level 2, Catalyst Athletics Level 2, Wenning Strength
Nutrition & Recovery: Precision Nutrition Level 1, Vertical Diet Coach, Bio-Force Conditioning Coach
He is also the only Strength Coach to have ever simultaneously held both the Starting Strength Coach and Westside Barbell Special Strength Coach credentials—an accomplishment that speaks to his broad expertise across training methodologies
Beyond his coaching career, Tony has competed in MMA, Kickboxing, Olympic Weightlifting, Strongman, and Powerlifting, winning the 2017 NW Record Breakers 125kg Classic RAW Division. These experiences give him a unique edge in training individuals of all backgrounds, from elite athletes to those recovering from major injuries. He has worked with professional MMA fighters, top-ranked tennis players, a 91-year-old cancer survivor learning to walk again, and a quadriplegic patient regaining mobility after a traumatic brain injury. No matter where someone starts, Tony’s mission is simple: to help them become stronger, more capable, and more confident in their own body.
Tony believes that training is more than just a physical journey—it’s a transformation that empowers people to take control of their lives. If you’re ready to invest in long-term health and sustainable results, Tony Sandbothe is ready to guide you every step of the way.
DARIUS MARTE
I'm Darius Marte, a trainer here at Sandbothe Strong, with a background in massage therapy, holistic medicine and a passion for nutrition. I've spent years exploring the profound impact of food alternative health modalities on our overall health. Driven by curiosity and a commitment to evolving my approach, I discovered the transformative power of strength training.
My coaching philosophy is rooted in an understanding that just like medicine, when it comes to exercise there is a narrow therapeutic window. In order to establish and maintain positive adaptations we must take into account frequency of training stimulus and concentration of training stimulus.
These considerations are all encompassing and result not only in physical fitness but also mental and emotional vitality. On top of personal strength coaching, I offer meal prepping and planning at whatever level of help you need. Whether that is a customized meal plan, one on one healthy cooking classes where i not only teach you how to cook but grocery shop. To a full on meal prep service where i shop and prepare the most delicious meals based on the meal plan that not only taste great but support your recovery and training in the gym. Offering: 1,2,3 meal a day options, meals for the week. Together, we'll create a personalized plan that harmonizes strength, nutrition, and optimal health. My education includes extensive study in: Massage therapy, western linear periodization, The Conjugate Method, Bio-Mechanics, Human Anatomy and Physiology, Compassionate Communication, Super Slow Single set to failure training, Fasting, Eagle Claw Kung Fu, Goju Ryu Karate, Boxing, and Muay Thai. I always have a white belt mentality and strive to bring the knowledge I learn to my clients.
Rachael Berecka
I’m Rachael, a strength coach here at Sandbothe Strong. The impact of strength training on my personal life has been profound enough that I decided to trade in my software engineering career to learn under Tony’s mentorship. I currently have all 3 levels of Strength Systems International trainer certifications. An avid learner, I am also reading every book my mentor recommends and more (ex. periodization models, biomechanics, functional anatomy)! Interning and observing at the gym under the best trainer in town is teaching me about working with a wide range of clients. Ask me what I’m currently reading/studying and I will happily share. I have enjoyed working with my current clients and cannot wait to work with more folks! One client shared with me that she can now go up her stairs without losing her breath and now feels more confident moving around furniture without fear of losing her balance. Another client success I am proud of is coaching a person who had never worked out in a gym, let alone weight training, who now enthusiastically embraces the challenge of each workout. Results like these inspire me to keep growing as a coach!
While learning, getting certified, and training a handful of clients I have also committed to losing weight this year. Last August/September I weighed around 205 pounds at 5’1’’. Having watched relatives yoyo-diet with fads and weight watchers, I knew those didn’t work and often backfired. I accepted that being overweight was inevitable so I didn’t try at all. But that approach also didn’t sit well with me, especially watching those same relatives age with a myriad of health issues. With my 40’s fast approaching, and a new level of understanding from my studies (especially that it’s the first 10-20 percent of pounds lost that reaps the most health benefits), I decided to lose weight sustainably. As a trainer, I also knew I needed to be able to help clients with their own body composition goals. As of March I am under 170 and am back to shopping off the rack in standard sizes. At an average of a pound a week, I’ve lost weight in a way that does not take over my daily life, isn’t overly complicated with calculations, and lets me enjoy my food. Having worked on myself first, I feel prepared to help clients in the same way.
Years of software engineering and ESL teaching have afforded me lots of skills such as adapting complicated systems for individual use cases, making data & care informed decisions, mentoring, and adapting communication styles for optimum learning/understanding. As a trainer, I believe in meeting clients where they are. I believe there is more than enough BS in the fitness industry that I promise I will try my best not to add to it. If I don’t know an answer – I will tell you I don’t know and then go find the answer. I will continually learn and adapt so I can help you get results. I believe in the sanctity of coach-client relationships and will be in your corner. Period. I will never ask a client to do something I wouldn’t. As someone who has struggled with panic disorder & anxiety, I know intimately what it feels like to not feel connected or at peace with your physical body. I totally get how scary/uncomfortable a gym can seem and how hard it is to win some peace of mind in your own skin. If you want to talk about weight loss, we can! If you want to never talk about it – we won’t! At a minimum we will probably chat a bit about basic nutrition but through the lens of how to recover from a workout and feed your growing muscles.
Whether you are totally new to working out and intimidated by gyms, have been on a long fitness hiatus, recovering from burnout, or an enthusiast eager to level up your skills with iron – I cannot wait to work together!
