Jim Tietjens has an impressive resume as a soccer goalkeeper — state champion in high school, All-American in college, a member of the U.S. national team, and a professional keeper who won a championship with the Fort Lauderdale Sun of the United Soccer League. Following his playing career, he enjoyed success in the sporting goods industry as well as sports marketing. He underwent his first heart transplant in 1992. In 2018, he had a kidney transplant along with a second heart transplant. To this day, Jim continues to be an advocate for organ donation. He has been inducted into the St. Louis University, St. Louis Soccer and Mehlville School District Halls of Fame. He still lives in Oakville, Missouri and has two adult children — Jimmy and Annie. 

Jeff Kuchno has spent his career working in the media and education fields. He has worked 27 years as a high school journalism instructor, retiring as a full-time educator in 2021. Prior to teaching, he served as the sports information director at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, where he received 13 national awards for excellence in publications. He previously worked as a sportswriter and sports editor for the Suburban Journal Newspapers in St. Louis. He is now a freelance writer living in St. Louis. He and his wife Laurie have three adult children — Kevin, Bryan and Kristin. 

Jeff Kuchno and Jim Tietjens share a passion for sports, fitness and exercise. They met in 2015 at the Workout Company in Oakville (right), and they have been friends since.