Dave Greenwalt (right) watches as Jesse Prescott (left) and Matt Monteverde (center) go over kicks during the Peaks Team workout at the Impact boxing center in East Flagstaff. - Ryan Kennedy/ The Lumberjack

One can see it when you enter the warehouse located on the east side of Flagstaff; one can feel it when you’re witnessing their preparation. The local mixed martial arts (MMA) group Peak Team is training in a warehouse on the east side of Flagstaff from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., and afterwards, they will be going to The Martial Way Training Center to continue training. They’re not alone, as a father and son practice boxing while paying no attention to the other teammates wrapping their hands to begin another rigorous session. Right away, Peak Team is showing their work ethic, and no sign of quitting.

Peak Team begins with warm-ups, stretching and basic exercises for about a half-hour. Local resident David Greenwalt, 22, prepares with his teammate Jesse Prescott; they are still the only members of the team present. 

Greenwalt’s brother started Team Peaks around two years ago, which eventually drew David in to the world of MMA. 

“My brother got things started,” Greenwalt said. “He jumped in the ring right away, just because he wanted to, and showed me the inspiration and dedication to commit. Because of that, the both of us have been going at it since.”

Prescott, 27, designed their custom T-shirts, shorts, hats and logo to promote their group. 

When they begin their fights in a month, Greenwalt will be the first to fight, and the rest of the team members will fight in the following months.

Peak Team is sponsored by many local businesses, including The Martial Way, Impact Center, Munderloh Chiropractic, Massage Envy and Never Die. Peak Team’s local matches are sponsored by Munderloh, and the other sponsors take care of the fights outside of Flagstaff.

“Our sponsors support us completely,” said team member and Flagstaff policeman Matt Monteverde. “They supply us with all our equipment, gas for travel; we are treated very well by them. This isn’t something you can make a living off of, obviously. You do it for the love of the sport.”

Matt Monteverde works the speed bag during his workout with the Peaks Team at the Impact boxing center in East Flagstaff. - Ryan Kennedy/ The Lumberjack

Not all of the Peak Team members are Flagstaff residents. 

“I was a on a different team before joining Peaks,” Prescott said. “They (the team) were lackluster, to say the least.”

In addition to their scheduled fights, Peak plans on traveling to train and learn at the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu academy, a prestigious institution established in 1925.

“We build (the team) as we go; it depends on dedication,” Greenwalt said. “There’s always a waiting period to prove you’re worthy of staying with the group. Your skill level and dedication is the main requirement. It’s a fight, not a workout.”

It certainly was a fight when Prescott and Greenwalt began sparring and went through a cycle of repeated kick-and-punch combinations to work on technique.

“Most people think MMA is a single-person sport, but that’s simply not the case,” Monteverde said. “We all prepare and train with each other; by no means can you do this alone. I would say we fight quarterly right now.”

Greenwalt, Monteverde and Prescott spent the next hour sparring and going over kick placement and ways to subdue an opponent when they were pinned down on the mat. 

NAU student Daniel Feveal, a 21-year-old business major, showed up toward the end of the practice to get his workout in. 

Feveal, a former NAU football player, took up MMA after recovering from injuries that defused his football career. Along with Feveal, there are several younger guys in the group. Monteverde said he can feel his age as his ability to egg the younger guys on becomes more challenging as time goes on.

“It’s a great advantage to be young when you’re doing this,” Monteverde said. “When we started out, I used to be able to kick their butts. Now it’s reversed, and guys like Danny and Dave are the ones beating everybody. It makes you work and train that much harder just to keep up with them.”

Along with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), MMA became immersed in the American culture in 1993. This slowly spread to Flagstaff as several Martial Arts establishments including the aforementioned Martial Way, Sleeping Lion and the Maximum Martial Arts training facilities.

For more information about Peak Team, visit www.myspace.com/peakteammma.