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Early Start, Big Results: How Training Young Set Andrew Landis Apart
When you talk about long-time PowerStrength athletes, few stories capture the journey better than Andrew Landis.
Andrew began training at PowerStrength as a middle schooler — a 7th grader who admits he wasn’t thrilled about lifting weights at first. But over the years, he discovered what so many PowerStrength athletes do: that training here is about far more than building muscle.
It’s about building a foundation for athletic and personal success.
“When I first started coming here, it was not my favorite thing to do,” Andrew said with a laugh. “My dad made me go. But if you get through those days, they’re going to make you so much better. You can tell who’s a PowerStrength athlete when you get older. If you start younger, everyone’s going to know — and that’s going to be the reason you excel above the competition.”
That foundation served Andrew well throughout his standout career at Rockford High School, where he was a multi-sport star in basketball and baseball. He earned All-Conference honors twice in basketball, was named All-State as a senior, and on the diamond, was All-Conference three times and All-State his senior season.
Now, Andrew is continuing his athletic journey at the Division I level, playing baseball at Oakland University, where he’ll begin his second season this spring.
A TRAINING EXPERIENCE THAT TRANSLATES
Looking back, Andrew credits PowerStrength for preparing him not just to compete, but to lead.
“PowerStrength, in my opinion, has done the best thing of obviously getting me bigger and stronger,” he said. “But one of the things I tell people is they make you a better person overall. They train you mentally so when you get to your specific school, you’re prepared for whatever task you have. You can tell which kids come to PowerStrength just by how they carry themselves.”
That mental and physical preparation became a separator.
By his freshman and sophomore years of high school, college coaches were already taking notice.
“I think there was a reason why,” Andrew said. “I started playing better on the field — faster, stronger than some of the other kids. You could tell some of them fizzled out. There’s a definite advantage coming to PowerStrength because you can actually see it on the field.”
BASEBALL-SPECIFIC AND BUILT FOR LONGEVITY
While many associate strength training with football, Andrew emphasizes that it’s just as vital — if not more so — for baseball players.
“Besides going to hit and throw, it’s probably the biggest thing you can do,” he explained. “Baseball’s a little different. You still want to gain weight and get stronger, but there are specific workouts we do here — med ball work, shoulder mobility — that are designed for baseball players.”
That individualized approach has kept him improving — even when faced with setbacks.
“This past summer I had a shoulder injury and couldn’t play Summer ball, but I still came here,” he said. “They adjusted everything so I could keep training safely. They really care about me and my health while helping me get stronger. That’s what I’m really grateful for.”
FROM ATHLETE TO LEADER
Now an established college athlete, Andrew continues to return home each Summer for the PowerStrength College Summer Training Program.
“It’s a no-brainer,” he said. “Once you come here, you’re never not going to come back. It’s a real family thing. You walk in and talk about your weekend, then you get an hour straight of the best training around.
These coaches are the best in the business.”
That combination of family atmosphere and elite coaching is what keeps athletes like Andrew coming back — and what inspired the next evolution of PowerStrength’s youth development.
A FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE: POWERSTRENGTH ACADEMY
Andrew’s story highlights exactly why PowerStrength recently announced the PowerStrength Academy — an expansion of our proven youth training program.
Designed for athletes from 1st through 7th grade, the Academy builds the foundation of movement, confidence, and athleticism that will serve kids for years to come. Two new PowerStrength Academy facilities are set to open soon — one next to the current Jenison facility and one next to the Plainfield facility — to serve more young athletes like Andrew once was.
Andrew believes it’s the best investment a young athlete can make.
“If you start younger, it’s going to make all the difference,” he said. “You’ll be stronger, more confident, and ahead of the competition — not just physically, but mentally too.”
Get all the Updates and Announcements by joining the PowerStrength Academy Insider List here.
FROM YOUTH TO COLLEGE: BUILT THE POWERSTRENGTH WAY
From his Middle School beginnings to playing Division I baseball, Andrew Landis represents what PowerStrength is all about — hard work, consistency, and growth that set the foundation for a lifetime of success.
He’s proof that when athletes start young, stay consistent, and surround themselves with the right people, they don’t just become better athletes — they become stronger individuals ready for whatever comes next.
GET STARTED AT POWERSTRENGTH
4th-12th grade athletes of all sports and abilities can also sign up at PowerStrength at any time while spots remain. Choose the PowerStrength location most convenient for you – Alpine, Kentwood, Jenison, Plainfield, and Holland. And a new Byron Center location Opening in November!
Visit https://powerstrengthpro.com/athlete/contact/ to learn more or click below to schedule your assessment and get started.
