Staff
Mike Young, PhD
Director of Sports Performance
In his role as the Director of Sports Performance, Mike serves as the primary biomechanist and strength and speed consultant. Mike is also the coach for the HPC Elite team. Mike has an undergraduate degree in Exercise Physiology and a Master of Science degree in Athletic Administration and a PhD in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Biomechanics. He has studied extensively in anatomy, physiology, sport psychology, motor learning, training theory and biomechanics. Mike has served as a jumps and multi-events coach at Ohio University where his athletes set 2 school records. Following OU, Mike moved to Baton Rouge where he did his doctoral studies and mentored under legendary track and field coach, "Boo" Schexnayder for 4 years. While at LSU, Mike was on the staff of 6 National Championship teams. Following his time at LSU, Mike became the sprints and multi-events coach for Army Track & Field. In his short 3 years at Army, Mike's athletes rewrote the record books with 9 school records, 54 All-Time Top Ten performances, 24 Conference Championships, and achieved the three highest point totals ever recorded in a single event at the conference championship (highlighted by a pole vault, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th at 2006 indoor meet).Mike has been a guest at all three U.S. Olympic Training Centers as an athlete (Lake Placid), sport scientist (Colorado Springs & Chula Vista), and coach (Colorado Springs). Mike has worked with several Olympians, National Champions, and Collegiate National Champions in the sport of Track & Field. In addition to working with track athletes, Mike has also trained athletes from a variety of other sports. Mike has helped prepare numerous players for the NFL combine, most notably Bradie James (Dallas Cowboys) and Super Bowl Champion Marquise Hill (New England Patriots).
He has lectured for USA Speed Skating, and has developed strength and conditioning programs for collegiate sports ranging from basketball to swimming. A Level 1, 2, and 3 Instructor for USATF, he also serves as the Director of Technology, Biomechanics Chairperson, and Vertical Jumps Chairperson for USA Track & Field's Coaches’ Education division. Mike is certified as a USA Track & Field Level 1, 2, and 3 coach and is only one of two people to be a Level 3 instructor in three different event disciplines (sprints, throws, and jumps). In his role as a USATF Coaches Education instructor, Mike became the youngest Level 2 (at the age of 26) and Level 3 (at 28) instructor ever in the 25 year history of the program. On top of these duties, Mike is also the biomechanist for the United State's men and women shot putters who are consistently ranked among the very best in the world.
Mike is the author of 2 book chapters and 2 books, and his research on sprinting, balance, and throwing activities has been published and presented in Regional, National and International journals and conferences. In the field of strength and conditioning, Mike is an NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist as well as a certified USA Weightlifting Club Coach. He is well-versed in coaching the Olympic Lifts and creating specialized strength, speed and conditioning programs to help maximize the performance of any athlete.
Scott Wajda, TPI-CGFI
Golf Fitness Professional
After graduating from Elon University with a Bachelors degree in Leisure and Sport Management, Scott went on to gain his certification as a fitness professional with the Titleist Performance Institute − a golf-specific training program designed to improve the athletic performance of competitive golfers, both amateur and professional alike. Scott’s expertise lies in the evaluation of a golfer’s functional movement patterns through a mutli-level, comprehensive fitness evaluation, and the designing of programs tailored to each golfer’s specific performance requirements.Scott also manages the TPI-based branch of Athletic Lab, serving as the coordinator with golf professionals of our respective Golf and Country Club clientele. Not only scheduling appointments for business negotiations and meetings, Scott also handles the marketing of the Titleist Performance Institute Program and serves as the head trainer within the branch.
Tait Yoder, LBMT #4204
Sports Massage Therapist
After earning his degree in with an emphasis in sports medicine from the University of New Mexico, Tait pursued his interest in bodywork and athletic performance through certifications in anatomy trains, myoskeletal technique, and orthobionomy. He completed an apprenticeship in the healing arts at Crystal Mountain School of massage, and later attended the Florida School of Massage where he gained valuable technical training in advanced programs of Sports Massage and Structural Integration.A lifelong athlete, Tait found his niche at the University of North Carolina where he began work with the Women’s Soccer Team in 2005, assisting them to two National Championships. Since then, Tait has worked with numerous Olympic, National Team, and under-20 National Team Soccer Players. Currently, Tait is the only sports massage therapist for Duke Track & Field. He supports them during the regular season and at both ACC and NCAA championships. Tait is also responsible for providing bodywork to the UNC Men’s soccer team, the UNC Swim Team, and the Carolina Railhawks Professional Soccer Team.
In his 13 years as a bodywork therapist, Tait has worked with top-placing collegiate decathletes, high-jumpers, long-jumpers, distance runners, sprinters, and throwers. His clientele also includes professional and collegiate tennis players, a women’s 2009 Professional Soccer League champion, and three Olympic Gold Medalists. He is well attuned to the needs of varying athletes and understands the adjustments necessary in his technique as it relates to preparation, post-competition, quick recovery, and off-season training.
Tait has taught courses in Anatomy and Physiology, several energy-related modalities, and continues to broaden his own knowledge base and experience through continual study and training. Most recently, he has earned his Level 2 certification in the integration of massage with functional training as an IMAP Practitioner. Tait’s work consistently improves the performance of both amateur and professional athletes.
Calah Young
Director of Operations / Athletic Development Coach
Calah Young serves an important role for Athletic Lab as the Director of Operations. In this role she manages daily facility operations, coordinates schedules, conducts training sessions and manages web and phone correspondence. Calah has been a member of Athletic Lab's parent company staff, HPC since its inception. Prior to joining the Athletic Lab staff, Calah was an accomplished athlete. Competing as a sprinter and long jumper for Federal Hocking High School, she set school records in the 100m, 200m, long jump and career points scored. These honors earned her a spot in the school's Athletic Hall of Fame. Following her high school career Calah went on a successful collegiate track and field career. At Ohio University, Calah set two school records in the pole vault. She later transferred to LSU, where she also broke two school records in the pole vault and became a member of the SEC All-Academic team. Following her graduation from LSU in 2005, Calah earned certification as a USA Track & Field Level 1 coach and served as a volunteer assistant Track & Field coach at the United States Military Academy at West Point from 2005-2008. While at West Point, Calah continued her athletic career as a member of the US Skeleton Elite Development team and resident of the Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid. During this time she also assisted HPC in implementing USA Track & Field's High Performance Plan.
Eric Broadbent
Athletic Development Coach
Eric Broadbent is currently training under Mike Young for the Decathlon. He is a national level competitor including a top 5 finish at the 2009 USA Indoor Combined Events Championship. Prior to switching over to the decathlon two years ago Eric was a 3 time All American (Long Jump, Triple Jump, High Jump) and 8 time Conference Champion for West Chester University. At West Chester he completed his Undergraduate Degree in Health and Physical Education with a Minor in Coaching. He is a Certified USA Track and Field Level 1 Coach. He coached at West Chester University for two years as the Jumps Coach and took on roles / responsibilities of head coach for half of the 2008/2009 season and worked with sprinters, jumpers, hurdlers, and multis. Eric has also worked as a Strength and Condition Coach for High School and Collegiate Hockey Players at the Ice Works Skating Complex in Aston, PA.
Dr. L. Kelsey Armstrong, D.P.M., CSCS
Podiatrist
Dr. Armstrong is the owner of Armstrong Podiatry & Sports Health, PLLC. A graduate of Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine, Dr. Armstrong is one of the few board certified podiatric physicians who is certified in Strength and Conditioning Science by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). A native of Toronto, Canada, Dr. Armstrong has treated athletes and non-athletes in Canada and the U.S. for over ten years, focusing on getting individuals moving as quickly as possible by nonsurgical means. Dr. Armstrong is also a certified USATF Level I coach and official.Chris Garret
Athletic Intern
Chris is currently an intern with the Athletic Lab studying under Mike Young and a student at National Personal Training Institute (NPTI). He played two seasons of basketball at Dean College avg.16 points and a brief stint on the Binghamton University State University of NY Basketball team where he later graduated with a degree in Sociology.His desire to stay connected to athletics through training has become his number one goal. Chris graduates from NPTI in April and plans to become CSCS certified, while gaining additional experience and education in sports performance.
