Will Maeder was looking for a training program to give him an edge as he heads into his sophomore season at Lander University. 

Maeder, a member of the lacrosse team, found the total package in the sports performance program at Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System’s Sports Medicine Institute. 

“I’ve been working on weight training and speed and agility sessions,” said Maeder. “Every time I go in, I feel like I get better. I keep getting stronger and faster.” 

The Sports Medicine Institute offers safe and professional-level sports performance training at several locations in the area, including the Thomas E. Hannah Family YMCA, the Star Center and the Pelham Medical Center. The program is in its 10th year.  

“We like to say we work with people from 8 to 80,” said Gary Hazelwood, sports performance supervisor. “Eight years old is when we start our performance classes, and we have private training. We have a good handful of 80 to 85-year-olds, we have 40- and 50-year-old weekend warriors who run races and do triathlons. We have individuals who have exited college who just want to stay healthy, and young adults who are in college who come back to train with us each summer. We have a good, wide range of ages and abilities.” 

In addition to personal training for individuals, the program offers 60-minute classes for athletes 8 to 13 years old, and 90-minute classes for those 14 to 18. Classes are held on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and most participants attend two or three times per week. The classes focus on fundamentals such as running and lifting techniques, and include speed and resistance training. 

For athletes 18 and older, the program offers FAM – fit athletic movements – classes at 6 a.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, and at 9 a.m. Monday through Friday at the Star Center. Participants work on mobility, strength and conditioning in the 50-minute class. 

“We have 20-year-olds and senior citizens working out in a format that can challenge everybody at different rep schemes,” said Hazelwood. “It’s based on time, and people push themselves to the time. Because of the way it’s designed, all these people in different age groups can work out together.” 

Lilly Phillips, a rising senior and a shooting guard on the women’s basketball team at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, has participated in the program since she was a student at Spartanburg High School. She participated in the classes while in high school and switched to individual sessions over the summer as a college student. 

“They laid the foundation for my strength and agility training,” said Phillips. “Since I’m a shooter, range is one of my biggest things. They’ve helped me with getting the ball off, controlling my touch and being stronger in every aspect of the game.” 

To learn more or sign up for sports performance training, visit SpartanburgRegional.com/sports-performance or call 864-560-5700.