Athletic Performance Training

Why choose Ignite Fitness for Sports Performance Training?

Our performance program builds the qualities your sport demands: speed, power, strength, agility, resilience, using evidence-based methods and repeatable testing. You’ll follow a customized plan, retested regularly, so progress isn’t a guess – it’s measured.

  • 1:1, 2:1 or coaching (contact us for small groups/team training & testing)
  • Testing-driven programming and retesting every 4–8 weeks
  • Sport-specific needs analysis and movement assessment
  • Tools for reaction, speed, and power (OVR speed timing & jump/power testing, Blazepods)
  • Clear goals, clear data, clear results

Start with a Free Athlete Consultation

If you’re coming to Ignite as an athlete or youth athlete, this is your starting point. Please choose the Athlete Consultation, not our general new-client consult. This will be your chance to tour our facility and also receive:

  • A Sport Needs & Training History Review
  • Postural / Stability / Movement Screen
  • Goal setting + season timeline planning
  • Intro baseline tests as appropriate

Outcome: your training roadmap + next steps for the Advanced Assessment.

Nicki Thurston, MS, CSCS
Head Sports Performance Coach

Education/Experience:

  • MS in Exercise Science with a concentration in Performance Enhancement & Injury Prevention
  • NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)
  • NASM Certified Personal Trainer (CPT)
  • NASE Speed Specialist Certification (NASE-CSS)

1-1 Coaching

At the start of your training program, you’ll complete a deeper, sport-specific assessment. Depending on your goals and sport, your testing battery may include:

  • Maximum Power (e.g., jump height, take-off metrics)
  • Linear Speed & Acceleration (10–40 yd/m splits)
  • Change of Direction & Agility
  • Maximum Strength (appropriate variations)
  • Muscular Endurance
  • Anaerobic & Aerobic Capacity
  • Technical Benchmarks tied to your position/event

We use OVR for speed and power testing and BlazePod for reactivity and decision speed.  Results create your baseline and guide training.  We retest every 4–8 weeks.

Training Approach

  • Customized program designed by Nicki around your sport calendar, then work with Nicki or any one of our other sports performance specialists.
  • Strength, plyometrics, SAQ, mobility, and recovery tactics
  • Technique coaching + workload management
  • Return-to-performance progressions (when relevant)
  • Ongoing data tracking to adjust and progress

Maximiliano Kittsteiner, MS, CSCS
Sports Performance Coach

Education:

  • M.S. Exercise & Sport Science
  • B.S. Kinesiology
  • NSCA Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)
  • NSCA Certified Personal Trainer (NSCA-CPT)
  • USA Weightlifting Level 1 Coach
  • USA Track & Field Level 1 Coach
  • CPR/AED/First Aid Certified

Experience

  • Strength and conditioning coaching experience across 11 NCAA sports at Western Colorado University
  • Strength and conditioning coach for WCU Nordic Ski, contributing to national podium finishes and 10 All-American honors
  • Helped establish Southeastern University’s pole vault program and coached conference champions, school-record holders, and collegiate recruits
  • Coached high school pole vaulters to state, regional, district, and conference honors

Athletic Accomplishments

  • NCAA Division II RMAC All-Conference pole vaulter
  • NAIA All-American in pole vault
  • Member of an NAIA national championship team
  • Four-time NAIA national qualifier
  • Two-time Sun Conference champion in pole vault and decathlon
  • Multiple-time Sun Conference All-Conference athlete
Chase Overpeck, MA, CSCS
Sports Performance Coach

Education/Experience:

  • MA Exercise Physiology (UNC-Chapel Hill)
  • Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (NSCA)
  • USA Weightlifting Level 1 Coach
  • Certified High Performance Coach-L2 (Athletic Lab)
  • Coached Olympic/Professional Clients, National Record Holders, International Medalists, and D1 College Recruits

Athletic Accomplishments

  • U25 2025 National Champion USA Weightlifting 65kg Class
  • 6x National Medalist
  • 3x State Champion
  • NC State Record Holder