06/02/2026
4,383 days separate the first two pictures from the last three…
12 years ago, Viking Performance Training opened its doors for the very first time!
What started as a sudden idea in 2014 - after spending a decade on the Strength & Conditioning staff at WVU and trying to figure out what came next - turned into one of the most life-changing decisions I’ve ever made.
When you leave what you know, step out on your own, and accept 100% of the risk, you voluntarily walk into a world that breaks a lot of people. No guarantees, no safety net, no promises that someone else is coming to save you if things go wrong.
There were years of 100+ hour work weeks. Years with almost no days off outside of a few holidays. Years of wondering if the sacrifices would ultimately be worth it.
Looking back today… totally worth it!
The greatest part of this journey hasn’t been the equipment, the building, or even the business itself. It’s been the people.
The athletes, parents, coaches, staff members, and families who trusted us along the way. Friendships built inside the gym walls or in high schools we’ve worked. The community that formed around a shared belief that people are capable of more than they think and just need hard, focused work around people who give a damn to get there.
Some of the kids who walked through our doors in those first few years are now adults with careers, spouses, and their own kids. I’ve had the chance to train several kids from athletes I trained before at WVU. We’ve had the privilege of watching young people grow into remarkable men and women, and that’s something I’ll never take for granted.
And of course, gotten to know a lot of adults who’ve been aging gracefully in that time too haha (much like myself)! 💪🏻 😎
To everyone who has been part of these last 12 years, whether for a season or for the entire journey - THANK YOU! 🙏
You helped build something far bigger than I ever imagined when I unlocked the doors for the first time 4,383 days ago.
Here’s to the next dozen years!
