Training facility pumps up after it moves to Barrington
Three business partners recently expanded their youth strength training facility in moving from Buffalo Grove to Barrington.
Superior Athletic Advantage, at 319 W. Northwest Hwy., offers strength training and conditioning to young athletes. "We mainly cater to youth and high school athletes," said co-owner Scott Edson, 25, of Mundelein.
He operates the business with Will Rawlings, 27, and Boone Bugger, 24, both of Lake Zurich.
The men met at University of Northern Iowa, became strength and conditioning coaches and studied kinesiology.
"We've worked with elite level players, now we're shifting to younger ages," Edson said. He added that they believe they can have more of an impact if they reach athletes at an earlier age.
Having an educational background in exercise science, the owners say they are able to develop age-appropriate techniques for their clients. "This is what differentiates us from others out there," Edson said. He added that they look at each athlete's goals in developing an individual tailored plan. "Having an education background is key," Edson said.
The partners say the strength training techniques they use are safe and will help prevent injuries. "We have a different approach in the way we train athletes," Edson said, adding that they use different exercises that strengthen the muscles, ligaments and bones.
The American College of Sports Medicine and the National Strength and Conditioning Association, have recently released position statements indicating that strength training is actually good for kids, Edson said. Rawlings, a graduate of Stevenson High School, says the only time a middle school student would get hurt lifting weights is in an unsupervised environment.
Prices at Superior Athletic Advantage begin at $45 a session for the smallest package. Three and six month programs are cheaper.
The business owners also work with many female soccer and volleyball players in an effort to prevent common ACL injuries. According to the Journal of Athletic Training, female athletes are statistically more prone to overuse injuries to the patella and non-contact injuries of the ACL. Resistance exercise has been shown to reduce this risk, Edson said.
The business owners are also working with several area high school baseball teams and even a 9-year-old youth baseball team.
The business is hosting an open house at the new facility from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, where weightlifting demonstrations will take place on the hour.
For more, check out superior-athletic.com.
• Kim Mikus covers retail and small business. She welcomes comments at kmikus@dailyherald.com or (847) 427-4567.