MC for 2025 UYYC!
Brian Melford
We are excited to have one of our UYYC judges from 2023 returning to instead be the host for this year’s contest! This years Master of Ceremonies is none other than Brian Melford, a Bronx Born Yoyo Performer & Designer. Brian served as President of the New York Yoyo Club for 10 Years growing membership through community events, volunteerism, and using social media to recruit future yoyoers through engaging family friendly content. Brian has competed in various Yoyo Contests including the World’s Yoyo Contest in Japan, Florida, & Cleveland, North East Regionals, and several state contests. Brian has designed several Yoyo models (Melford Special, El Presidente with Spintime Yoyos) and has done a number of positive interviews promoting yoyo culture🪀. Brian earned 1st Place at the 2015 New Jersey Contest in 2 major divisions, Judged United YoYo Contest in St. Louis 2023 and Hosted NY States in 2023.
CJ Atkinson
Check out this awesome wrestling inspired tutorial from CJ Atkinson; a YoYo and Kendama player turned wrestler! CJ combined his passions and created a YoYo company called Turnbuckle, based on different wrestling moves. CJ also helped work behind the scenes with Recess and as a designer with the DUNK YoYo with Jake Bullock. Not to mention he has a LONG yoyo competition career and will offer some great insight to judging the kendama freestyles. This will also be his first time to St. Louis as well as UYYC judge!
Coffin Nachtmahr
This is the 1st time bringing Coffin Nachtmahr to the St. Louis area. UYYC is very excited to have him judging the yoyo and kendama freestyles and to share his passion for his signature brand, OhYesYo! “Coffin’s tastes are eclectic as they come. “Coffin’s story is inspiring in so many ways, and he continues to work in his community and abroad spreading his passions. Check out the Emmy award winning documentary about him…… Throw” -Recess Yoyos
Daniel Dietz
Dietz’s highly anticipated return to St. Louis not as a competitor this time around but as UYYC judge reflects his journey and experience in the community. Daniel Dietz started to yo-yo when he was 11 years old. He has been ranked as high as fourth in the United States, first in Massachusetts, and has won international contests. He has also received the National Yo-Yo League’s Sportsmanship of the Year Award and the Moyostates Worst Music Award! Daniel has worked with some of the biggest yo-yo companies in the world such as One Drop, Yomega, YoYoStringLabs and Gsqaured. Daniel learned at the legendary A2Z store with Andre Boulay and now teaches at New York YoYo Club. We are excited to have him judging NYYL freestyles and since he also plays kendama he is judging the UYYC kendama freestyles and ladders!
Todd Rollenhagen
Todd Rollenhagen has been yoying since 2020, he is constantly striving to learn new styles and tricks as well as continue to master tricks in his own style. Sponsored by Rain City Skills and the creator of Foxtails Yoyo String, an organizer of the Mile High YoYo Club and the Colorado State Yoyo Contest, Todd joins the UYYC Judges team this year to help with tabulating NYYL raw scores for the final results of the day!