Our Team
Trevor Hayes
Coach Trevor is a lifelong martial artist who started with Wrestling at 9 years old and found Kickboxing in his early teens. Although, he never found his knack for competition, he found a passion for teachings others fundamentals to help them reach their goals, whatever they might be. He has been a full time Muay Thai and MMA coach since 2015, and found himself cornering fighters as early as 2008. Trevor has cornered fighters all across the US for well known promotions including CFFC, Lion Fight, Invicta, Lou neglias Fight Night, Shogun Fight, and others. When he is not in the gym, he can be found announcing, judging, and commentating for various fight promotions. He is constantly pushing for the growth of the sport in the state, and has assisted with the education of judges and referees in various combat sports. Coach also enjoys traveling to different gyms across the southeast to run seminars for charities in the community.
Owner/Head Striking Coach
Talia Cusanelli Hayes
Talia is co-owner and manager of Hometown Martial Arts. Talia is also a licensed Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and works with children from ages 0 through 21. Talia received an Undergraduate Degree in Communication Disorders from the University of Connecticut and a Graduate Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Talia is a dedicated Martial Artist, actively competing in Kickboxing, BJJ, and MMA.
Owner
Youth CoachVictor Ma
Coach Victor has been training in various Martial Arts, including Boxing, Kickboxing and Muay Thai for 13 years. Enlisting in the United States Navy at the age of 19, Victor took advantage of his travels to train with active amateur and professional fighters across all stages and rulesets of combat sports. Coach Vic now spends his veteran days studying and applying the nuances of fight IQ and footwork, actively competing in the Amateur Circuit, and passing on his knowledge to kids and adults of all walks of life. Whether it be for self defense, sport, or recreation, Coach Victor has the ability to tailor a program to challenge and level you up regardless of your skill-level. Vic runs our Youth Muay Thai program Monday through Friday at 5pm.
Boxing CoachAriel Lopez
Coach Lopez was born in Brooklyn, NYC. He started Boxing as a means of self defense after an altercation in 2005. He moved to North Carolina in 2006, where he continued Boxing. In 2008, Coach Lopez joined Rapid Fitness MMA, where he dipped his toes into other Martial Arts including Muay Thai and Judo, before joining the US Army in 2009, where he served until 2016. After his deployment to Afghanistan, he continued to Box under Coach Najee Shaheed. When he was discharged from the military, he began contracting under the state department in Iraq. He spent the past 3 years, as the head coach for a Boxing gym in Raleigh, before joining us at Hometown.
Grappling and Striking CoachAdam Levy
Adam Levy is a Black Belt under Dave Reeves (Fluffy BJJ) with over 18 years of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu experience in both Gi and No-Gi and 14+ years of coaching. He has trained with respected BJJ figures including Relson Gracie, Rhalan Gracie, Pedro Sauer, and Leo Dalla, and regularly coaches and corners students in BJJ competitions such as IBJJF and NAGA. A Red Patch – Kru under Ahjaan Scott Howard, Adam brings more than 15 years of Muay Thai and MMA experience as a coach, competitor, and active training partner, serving as a corner for fighters in top organizations including Shogun, Lion Fight, Cage Fury Fighting Championships (CFFC), Cowboy Fight Series, APFC, and World Kickboxing Association (WKA). He spent over seven years at Disciple MMA in Northern Virginia, where he served as the BJJ Head Coach, Muay Thai Kru, and MMA Fight Team Head Coach, before relocating to Raleigh in 2024. Passionate about precision, discipline, and growth, Adam continues to build skilled, confident athletes prepared for success both on the mats and in the cage.
Christian Massaro
Christian is a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Robert Ellison. He is also a coach at the Duke Brazilian Jiu Jitsu club. He has been training in both No Gi and Gi Jiu jitsu since 2019. Christian is an active competitor in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Grappling Coach
Jillian Jessup
Jillian started her martial arts training at age 5 in Tae Kwon Do. At age thirteen, she moved on to Boxing, Muay Thai and Judo in hopes of becoming the next Ronda Rousey. She wrestled in high school and dabbled in Krav Maga the Summer after graduation. In college, Jillian became president of the Boxing club at NC State in addition to competing in MMA, Kickboxing, Judo, and Jiu Jitsu. Jillian is passionate about women learning martial arts to improve confidence in all areas of life. Come learn from her at Ladies Class every Saturday at 10:30am!
Women's Muay Thai Instructor
Nathan Chau
Nate Chau is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Cody Maltais, with over a decade of experience in training and competition. By day, he works in data analytics. When he’s not working or teaching on the mats, he enjoys gardening with his girlfriend, being herded by his corgi Aiko, or missing far too many clay pigeons on the sporting clays course.
Grappling Coach
Eric Wilberg
Coach Wilberg graduated from East Carolina University in 2018 with a Bachelors degree as a Health Fitness Specialist. Since then he has worked in a wide variety of fitness environments with all types of clientele. Along with the general population Coach Wilberg has worked with numerous youth athletes, aging adults, visually impaired trainees, Special Olympians, competitive powerlifters, and amateur fighters.
Coach Wilberg’s passion for training began in his freshman year of high school in 2009. Coach Wilberg competed in wrestling at a high level both in high school and at the collegiate level. After having to give up wrestling in 2015 to afford schooling he dove head first into bodybuilding and powerlifting. Since then Eric has competed in 1 bodybuilding show and 15 powerlifting competitions, totalling 1800+ 9 times. His best lifts in competition are a 694lb squat, 463lb bench press, and 840lb deadlift in the 220lb weight class.
Strength and Powerlifting Coach
Crickett Bankston
Crickett Bankston joins our team with a decade of experience in athletic development and performance training. He's coached hundreds of youth to collegiate athletes that have had success in a variety sports. From the traditional including dozens of NCHSAA state champion and record setting lacrosse and football players, wrestlers and volleyballers. To the extreme, obscure and unorthodox: Selection and BUD/S prep, a professional ping pong player, an equestrian, and a fencing team. Crickett works to instill a confident, insightful and tenacious mindset in the athletes he develops. While fine tuning their bodies to perform optimally during competition.
Crickett has a BS in Psychology as well as a BS in Exercise Science with dual concentrations in Exercise Physiology and Sport Behavior from Greensboro College. He's a USA Weightlifting Level 1 coach. Crossfit Level 1 coach. Underground Strength & Performance coach and a Lockhart & Leith Nutrition and Weightcutting specialist.
Strength and Performance Coach