KENDALL, Fla. \u2014 With March Madness underway and Division I athletes back in the spotlight, the level of training it takes to compete at the top of college sports is getting plenty of attention.<\/p>\n
In Kendall, one coach is working every day to help young athletes reach that level.<\/p>\n
Kevin Lopez is the fitness director at D1 Training Kendall, where the focus is helping athletes get stronger, faster and more confident.<\/p>\n
For Lopez, the work is personal. His own athletic career started with a similar opportunity growing up in Miami.<\/p>\n
\u201cI got trained by a guy down here in Miami who focused on strength and conditioning, specifically for athletes — for kids that are trying develop, improve and go to college,\u201d Lopez said. \u201cIt allowed me to be one of the top receivers in that year for our district, which gave me opportunities to go play at Iowa.\u201d<\/p>\n
That experience changed his path and ultimately brought him back home.<\/p>\n
Now Lopez says his mission is to give other athletes the same type of chance.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to try and help out as many people as I can, to give them that same opportunity, or at least get them as close as they can to reach that if that\u2019s a goal that they have for themselves,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Inside the gym at D1 Kendall, the training goes well beyond basic workouts.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe focus on lateral movements, we focus on their agility, their quickness, we focus on building that upper body strength as well,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Just as important, he says, is helping athletes stay healthy and confident.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of kids are coming in to build their confidence,\u201d Lopez said. \u201cIt\u2019s not just to improve their speed, their agility, their quickness to transition over to the field or to the court.\u201d<\/p>\n
The gym has also become a place where athletes feel comfortable pushing themselves.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re just trying to build a community around here,\u201d Lopez said. \u201cWe\u2019re trying to expand and touch as many people, as many athletes, as many adults as we can.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a home for them,\u201d he added. \u201cAnd they have somewhere they\u2019re going to come, feel at ease, not feel intimidated.\u201d<\/p>\n