Training tomorrow’s leaders: Father’s Heart Sports
8/25/2025
Father’s Heart Sports’ mission was highlighted in a recent article by local news, KPTV Fox12.
By Lia Kamanā
Published: Aug. 25, 2025 at 9:08 AM PDT
ROCKWOOD, Ore. (KPTV) — Using martial arts expertise to turn young athletes into tomorrow’s leaders. That is the goal of one local charity “Father’s Heart Sports.”
“Father’s Heart Sports” is the nonprofit wing of Team Quest MMA, a mixed martial arts gym, that has been a mainstay in the Rockwood neighborhood for more than 25 years.
“We are trying to put this place right where the kids are, where the kids need a gym and need access to this,” said head coach and owner, Matt Lindland.
Lindland is proud to say he has never turned a kid away for lack of finances, knowing the positive impact martial arts can have on their futures, but says he has only seen the need in the community increase.
In its first year, Father’s Heart Sports raised $30,000, in its second year $35,000, and this year Lindland says they are trying to double that.
“Funding is a big deal,” said Lindland. “A lot of these kids don’t have money for gloves, or uniforms and then they start going to tournaments with $100 entry fee.”
Ten-year-old Jervy Womplu has been coming to Team Quest for four and a half years now. He says the training has made a big difference in his life.
“At first, I was getting bullied and then I got in some fights, and I was getting bad grades,” he said. “I’m not getting into fights anymore, I’m not getting suspended.”
While it may sound unorthodox, Father’s Heart Sports believes combat sports can give kids self confidence, develop better emotional control, and focus.
“It’s a really positive place for the kids and it really allows them to grow within themselves to do things that they maybe didn’t think they could do,” said Betty Lind, whose son, Ellis, has been attending Team Quest for three years. “He’s had growth in so many areas, his confidence mostly.”’
Originally from outside of Oregon City, Lindland picked up wrestling in high school and took it all the way to the 2000 Olympics, bringing home a silver medal. He then went on to become a professional MMA fighter and coach of the 2016 and 2020 US Olympic wrestling teams.
“My favorite thing is seeing these guys that came in here, they were nervous, they were timid, they were scared,” he said. “And they get on the mats and they try it and they fall in love with the sport and they stick around for a decade or so and then all of a sudden they are adults and they want to come back and coach and give back because it changed their lives.”
Those like Carl “CJ” Orchard, who started training at Team Quest when he was 5. He’s now heading into his senior year at Corbett High School and is spending much of his summer helping the next generation.
“I like watching the kids go through what I had to and be the coach and help them push through what they have to,” Orchard said. “Having a program like this is important. Outside we are not exactly located in the best part of Portland. So, it gets kids off the street, out of gangs, and into a disciplinarian where they can learn and learn from their actions.”Lindland says they can use help in anyway - equipment, snacks, water, time, and funding.
Through a partnership with public charter school, Rockwood Preparatory Academy, the gym picks up students from school and walks them to the gym for open play, prior to class.
This fall, kids will have access to snacks through a new partnership with the Sunshine Division.
If you would like to donate or assist in anyway, visit Father’s Heart Sports.
Copyright 2025 KPTV-KPDX. All rights reserved.
Coach Matt Lindland and Robert Plympton of Father’s Heart Sports and Team Quest MMA Appear on KOIN 6 News
8/11/2025
Father’s Heart Sports Announces Strategic Partnership with Peak Learning and Dr. Paul Stoltz
7/10/2025
Rockwood in Portland, OR – For 25 years Team Quest MMA has been training fighters, amateur and professional, coaching adult and youth martial arts classes and supporting athletes in their community of Rockwood Oregon. Three years ago, Team Quest MMA’s owners, Matt and Angie Lindland, started a non-profit organization to extend their reach in the community.
“For 25 years we’ve never turned a kid away for lack of finances”, says Team Quest Owner, and Head Coach Matt Lindland. Lindland is a UFC veteran, Olympic Wrestling silver medalist and former coach of the US Olympic Wrestling team. He’s now focused on changing the community in Rockwood.
The Father’s Heart Sports represents the charitable wing of his successful long-running athletic club, and its goal is to bring confidence-boosting coaching to more kids in the Rockwood area, who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford the training. “The need has only gotten greater and we’re looking for partners to help us support these kids” Says Coach Matt Lindland.
Father’s Heart is currently supporting over 20 athletes, providing training in boxing, Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling and MMA. Father’s Heart Sports now proudly announces an exciting new partnership with Peak Learning and its founder, Dr. Paul G. Stoltz. Stoltz is a world-renowned expert on grit and resilience. He has officially joined The FHS Advisory Board. Peak Learning will be monitoring and helping to improve student’s ability to overcome challenging situations with personal development plans.
Father’s Heart, in partnership with Peak Learning will give these young martial arts athletes the skills they need to overcome adversity. With Matt Lindland’s expert martial arts training and Dr Stoltz analysis Father’s Heart Sports will be able to effectively track results and progress for each athlete.
Coach Matt and Dr. Stoltz first connected while preparing U.S. athletes for the Olympic Games in Rio (2016) and Tokyo (2021), where Stoltz's science-based mindset training played a key role in developing world-class performance under pressure. Now they are working to support youth in need as the two leaders unite on a new mission: using sports and mentorship to develop grit, character, and purpose in young athletes growing up in underserved communities.
“Dr. Stoltz’s work shaped how we trained Olympians to thrive under pressure” said Coach Matt Lindland, “now, we’re bringing that same world-class mindset to young men who need it most, right here in our community.”
“I’ve seen firsthand how Coach Matt builds champions—not just in sport, but in life,” said Dr. Stoltz. “The Father’s Heart Sports is doing vital work for this next generation of young warriors. I’m honored to be part of this mission.”
Matt Lindland has been coaching since 1991 and has trained Olympic Wrestlers, Professional Fighters and youth, helping athletes reach their full potential. Dr. Stoltz’s work has impacted leaders and organizations in 137 countries, including NASA, the U.S. Navy SEALs, and many Fortune 100 companies.
Together, The Father’s Heart Sports and Peak Learning will work to integrate Mindset Development into martial arts, mentorship, and leadership programming—giving boys and young men a clear path from hardship to hope.
For more information, visit:
https://fathersheartsports.org
https://www.peaklearning.com/aq