Staff
Conner Reilly, Director
Mike Cheely, Assistant Director
Lucas Lopes, Assistant Director
Fr. Marty John, Chaplain
Tom Kenny, Teacher
Peter Bancroft, Teacher
Mike Rueda, Teacher
Jim McNiff, Newspaper, Photographer
Jonathan Sutkowski, Medic
Counselors
Alexander Ganahl • Annandale, VA
Andrew Bailey • Potomac, MD
Brendan Wick • Sparta, NJ
Edward Giuntini • Derwood, MD
Enzo Flati • Sewickley, PA
Gabriel Diaz-Bonilla • Vienna, VA
George Mehan • Herndon, VA
Greg Woltornist • Glen Gardner, NJ
John Paul Abela • Great Falls, VA
Jose Duran • Bronx, NY
Jose Galindo • Mamaroneck, NY
Joseph Kilner • Potomac, MD
Joseph Ferguson • Potomac, MD
JP Martinson • Boonton, NJ
Lorenzo Lopez Olan • The Woodlands, TX
Michael James • Bethesda, MD
Nathan Greydanus • Bloomfield, NJ
Nicholas Diederich • Great Falls, VA
Peter James • Bethesda, MD
Peter Balan • Boonton, NJ
Phil Montazzoli • Galena, OH
Santiago Bendeck • Potomac, MD
Sean Kelly • Boonton, NJ
Staff Bios
Conner Reilly (Director): Very excited for this year at Leadership Camp! I first attended as a rising 7th grader in 2004. Subsequently we started a camp in Maine which, after being a camper and counselor, I helped to direct for a few years. Later on I continued working with versions of Leadership Camp in Texas; eventually starting our own in Dallas in 2020. Leadership camps have been a big part of my life and I’m looking forward to helping this year’s counselors and campers grow through their experience. I currently live in NYC and direct Schuyler Hall and The Grade.
Michael Cheely (Assistant Director): I’m excited to be returning for the 3rd time to the YSI Leadership Camp after a hiatus of several years. I grew up in Chicago, and attending the midwest version of this camp was one of the highlights of my year. It’s great to now have the chance to be part of the east coast version. When not helping out with the Leadership Camp or other YSI programs (AKA, the rest of the year), I teach History, English, and Spanish at the Heights School.
Lucas Lopes (Assistant Director): This is my 8th time at YSI Leadership Camp! I’ve been teaching at The Heights School in MD for the past 5 years. I’m heading off to Rome this summer to study theology at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross. Looking forward to an amazing week!
Jonathan Sutkowski (medic): This is my first year helping at Leadership Camp Pennsylvania. I previously staffed the Midwest version of this camp and had a great experience. I am currently finishing scribing work at a clinic in NYC and getting ready to start medical school at Northwestern this fall.
Michael James: This is my first time doing Leadership camp as a counselor or a camper. I have heard incredible things about camp and can’t wait to be part of it! I am an incoming freshman at The University of Maryland-College Park, having just graduated from the Heights School in early June. I have been a very competitive swimmer since I was eight, competing in Nationals for the past two years. I also enjoy chess, logic puzzles, and reading!
Brendan Wick: I have never before attended the leadership camp as a camper, and I’m looking forward to my first time as a counselor. I attend The Grade at Schuyler Hall, and I have heard great things about the camp. My favorite hobby is chess, which I play competitively.
Peter James: This is my first time participating in camp but I am excited from what I have heard. I am pumped to mentor and help out the campers this year. I will attend the University of Dallas in the fall after graduating from the Heights School. I am an avid swimmer and reader; I’m currently reading the Count of Monte Cristo.
Greg Woltornist: Hello my name is Greg Woltornist. I am a recent college graduate working in finance as a financial relationship banker at Huntington. I attended leadership camp when I was going into 8th grade. Since then I have been a counselor for 5 years. Even as a counselor I countdown the days until world war 3 at camp every year. I can’t wait to help foster an atmosphere for young leaders to grow and prosper.
Tom Kenny (Teacher): Since 2010, I have organized the transportation between YSI Leadership Camp and the Washington, DC Metro area. I have also taught camp history classes on Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt, among others.
Andrew Bailey: Hi I’m Andrew Bailey I’m a rising senior at the Heights School and the oldest of six children. I enjoy running, ocean fishing and listening to country music. Also, this past year I tutored several students and taught CCD at my parish. This is my first year at leadership camp and I’m super excited to help out.
Alexander Ganahl: This is my first year as a counselor at leadership camp. I attended in 6th and 7th grades, and greatly enjoyed the experience. My goal attending this camp is to have fun, grow spiritually, and help the campers who attend, as well as to make some friends. My main interests outside of school are basketball, football, and chess.
Enzo Flati: After attending YSI as a camper for 2 years, I am excited to return as a junior counselor in order to make camp as fun and productive for current campers as it was for me. I am a rising junior at Aquinas Academy as well as an active Boy Scout. In my free time I lift, mountain bike, and play basketball. I am really looking forward to Leadership camp.
Lorenzo Lopez Olan: My name is Lorenzo and I am a rising sophomore at The Catholic University of America! While I’ve never done a camp with Opus Dei, I did attend a camp with The Legionaries of Christ when I was in middle school and found it to be a great way to build character over the summer. I’m an avid climber and reader, and I hope to be able to climb at least a v7 by the end of the year! I am incredibly excited to be a part of the camp this year, and will do my best to make it a fun time for everyone!
John Paul Abela: This is my first time as a counselor after attending the camp only one time in middle school. I greatly enjoyed the packed schedule each day and am excited to help campers live each day to the fullest with Mass, sports, and other activities. I am currently a rising sophomore Philosophy and Classics double major at The Catholic University of America and am excited to serve as a student minister next year!
Peter Balan: I attended leadership camp as a kid and am excited to come back to help make this year’s camp as memorable as it was when I attended! The counselors who ran the camp during my time made a big impact on me and I can’t wait to help out this year as one! Currently I’m a rising Junior at Gregory the Great Academy, a boarding school in Pennsylvania, I love to play rugby, and helped my team to win the D1 state title this year!
Gabe Diaz-Bonilla: This will be my first year as a leadership camp counselor. I went to leadership camp throughout middle school, and I can’t wait to try and provide the same amazing experience I had. I am the middle child of a big family of ten, and am a senior at the Heights school in Potomac Maryland. In my application I am deciding whether or not I want to continue to play soccer in college or go to school overseas. I play travel soccer in one of the most competitive leagues in the country.
Joe Kilner: I’m a rising senior in high school at The Heights in Potomac MD. I attended Leadership Camp all through middle school, and I’m super excited to experience the counselor point of view, and especially the Treasure Hunt! I’m also the oldest of seven children, and an avid wrestler and musician.
Jose Duran: I’m Jose, and I am excited to be a summer camp counselor! I am a rising junior at Fordham Prep with a passion for baseball, ministry, and helping others! I am dedicated to providing a safe, fun, and inclusive summer camp experience for everyone!
JP Martinson: I attended Leadership Camp twice in middle school and will be counseling for my first time this year. The camp was the highlight of my summers and I am looking forward to giving some of that back. I’m a rising senior at Lumen Gentium Academy in Boonton, NJ. I became a rower after reading Boys in the Boat and will be training this summer for fall races.
Nathan Greydanus: Hey everyone! I’m thrilled to be returning to camp this year, having previously attended as both a camper and counselor. Last year’s experience was unforgettable, and I’m excited to create more amazing memories. As a rising senior, I’m focusing on my passion for computer science and preparing for college applications. When I’m not coding, you can find me on the mats, where I proudly hold an iron belt and have won two gold medals in competitions and I’m currently training for my next tournament. Looking forward to another fantastic camp experience!
Santi Bendeck: I’m back as a counselor this year as I have attended leadership camp twice in middle school. I love to play tennis and squash year round. This year, I’m super pumped for the night games especially the Treasure hunt and Ghost. I’m a rising senior at The Heights School located in the DC area. I look forward to helping the campers through mentoring and talks.
Eddie Giuntini: This is my second year as a counselor and fifth year attending the camp. I loved the camp as a camper and am excited to make it even better as a counselor. I graduated from The Heights School in the spring and will be attending Notre Dame this fall. I love playing rugby and spending time outdoors.
Phil Montazzoli: My name is Phil Montazzoli. I just graduated from Bishop Watterson High School in Columbus Ohio. I will be attending Grove City College in PA and will be majoring in mechanical engineering. I both attended this camp as a middle schooler and was a counselor at last years camp. In my free time I enjoy golfing, working on small engines, and off grid backpacking.
Jose Galindo: This is my first year being a counselor and I’m very excited to have a fun and enriching experience with your sons. I am a rising Junior at Regis High School who enjoys playing piano, the guitar, and listening to music. I also love soccer and play on the school ultimate frisbee team. Looking forward to meeting your sons!
Sean Kelly: This is my first time as a counselor at camp. I’ve been a camper several times before and those were the best weeks of my summer. I enjoy playing irish music, boxing, fitness and learning about leadership.
Nicholas Diederich: Hi my name is Nicholas. I just graduated from the Heights School in Potomac, MD. I will be attending Texas A&M university in the fall. I love hiking and backpacking and I am an avid runner. This is my second year as a counselor at leadership camp. I was also a camper here for two years. I’m really excited to serve your sons and help them have a great week at camp!
Joseph Ferguson: Although I attended Leadership Camp as a camper, this is my first time being a counselor, and I’m super hyped to give back to this amazing camp! My brother was my senior counselor when I was in sixth grade, so I’m excited to bring it full circle as a counselor. I love soccer, spikeball, and doing anything enriching with friends.
George Mehan: This is my first time as a counselor. I was a camper going into 8th grade and had an incredible time. I love baseball and spikeball. I just defeated Joseph Ferguson in a hard fought spikeball battle. And I have seven younger siblings.