Coach: These two can't lose at Glenview's Win Athletic Club

What happens when you mix a swim team sprinter with a Division III All-American defensive tackle and put them in the same classroom?

A winning formula, apparently.

It was a teaching and coaching class, but it might as well of been chemistry class: Two then-seniors at DePauw University in New Castle, Indiana, were simpatico right from the start. Boom! Instant chemistry!

Now, nearly 30 years later, Kris and Erika Gruner are married and still going strong. Better yet, they have landed in Glenview and are thriving with their relatively new business, The Win Athletic Club.

I discovered Win Athletic while having lunch at one of my favorite spots, Glenview's very own Siunik Armenian Grill, devouring a plate of the finest chicken, rice pilaf, and hummus that the northern suburbs has to offer.

"Oh man, I love that place," says Kris (with a K), getting off the main subject, just like his interviewer. "Best chicken around, and the hummus is outstanding!"

Yes, and yes!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, there was a brochure for Win Athletic on my table, which I perused as I ate. I thought that it seemed quite interesting. Sure enough, right there in the back of the same small industrial/office complex off Chestnut Avenue, tucked all the way in the back was a small sign advertising The Win Athletic Club.

"The village has kind of a sign restriction," says Kris. "So we are limited by that, but people are finding us now and business is starting to get better."

So with pen, paper, and brochure in hand (not to mention a full belly) I headed over to said location and, sure enough, the first two to greet me were Kris and Erika (wife Erika with that K thing going as well), the co-owners and husband and wife team behind this unique fitness concept.

Actually, they partnered up with Chris Falcon (disappointingly, there's no K in his name, but that's sure to change after this column comes out) whom has been very involved in Glenview for many years including a recent stint as board president for Glenview's Chamber of Commerce.

"I had just retired from being a trader downtown," explains Kris, "and I was taking personal training lessons from Chris. I was looking for something to get involved in post-retirement and it was Chris who suggested why not do something you're passionate about, so we did. And because Erika and I have always been into sports and fitness, we thought opening up a facility here would be the perfect fit."

This fitness boutique, which has become their calling, specializes in offering a little of everything. Think of it as almost a fitness buffet. Go down the line and choose any one of a number of items. Group fitness your thing? Sounds good! Take a plate and move on down, please. Boxing classes for fitness? Just one per customer please and keep moving down. How about massages from Peak Performance, or some quality physical therapy from Dr. Will Ko and his Ko Wellness program (that darn K thing again), or maybe you would prefer to get a little wilder and try some cryotherapy from Sammy Berke and her Uplift Cryo program. The list goes on.

Not to forget how it all started, which was with the Reactive Performance Enhancement Center and the unique personal training program of co-owner Chris Falcon, which continues successfully on location.

"We try to cater to a lot of different needs and a lot of different age groups and clientele," says Erika. "And I think that's what makes us unique. We are a family business, not a franchise, and we take great care in giving the customer our best possible product."

"We also do birthday parties and cater to kids," adds Erika. "I even help supervise and work with the smaller children, providing some day care when there is a parent group fitness program going on."

The place is immaculate and visually very appealing, and definitely much bigger than it appears from the outside.

"We wanted to have a sort of spa look to it," says ex-college swimmer Erika. "So we brightened everything up and added showers and locker rooms for the customers."

No question the club is establishing itself amid much competition in the area.

"I really enjoy the Glenview clientele," says Kris. "They are down to earth, and just really good people. A really solid community. It was never our dream to own and run a fitness and athletic club; it just kind of happened, but now we love it and are all-in, hoping to keep it going for years.

With their enthusiasm, love of the game, and just generally uplifting personalities, I have no doubt that these two, who met more than 30 years ago in that small classroom at DePauw University, will do that and more.

And next time I am engulfed into my Siunik Chicken, rice and hummus - try the Hamov too; it is to-die-for - I may meander over and, maybe, join in on one of those classes. Full stomach or not.

• Jon Cohn of Glenview is a coach, retired PE teacher, sports official and prep sports fan. To contact him with comments or story ideas, email jcsportsandtees@aol.com.