Woodbridge gives PEAC a chance
BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer

CHRIS KELLY staff Edison's Steve Dumchus, 16, backpedals while pulling a weighted sled in an early tryout of the new Performance Enhancement Athletic Center for athletes between 8 and 18 years old at The Club at Woodbridge on Dec. 29.

WOODBRIDGE — The Club at Woodbridge has opened up the Peak Performance Enhancement Athletic Center (PEAC) inside its Kids Sports Gym, where athletes between the ages of 8 and 18 can test and improve their agility, speed, and quickness.

"The center also helps build their character," said Jeff Marmelstein, who coordinated the implementation of the center with Trish Menendez.

Various basketball teams from St. James Catholic School in Woodbridge and the football team from Bishop George Ahr High School in Edison came to test out the new center on Dec. 29.

"We're expecting the Woodbridge traveling girls' soccer team on Friday [Jan. 2]," said Marmelstein, who is the fitness and personal training director at The Club.

Menendez, group exercise director at The Club, said they realized that there were no other centers like this in the area.

"Most of the centers are up north," she said.

The center is set to officially open on Jan. 12 and will be open throughout the year.

"This is for any sport," said Menendez. "Not one of these kids has the same needs … one might need to increase their power, one might need help in their balance, one might need help in changing of directions and more."

Marmelstein said that earlier in the day, the daughter of one of the club members joined the session with the football team.

"She played soccer, softball and volleyball," he said. "Every sport needs these same types of skills."

Marmelstein and Menendez stressed that the center was not for learning basketball or football skills.

"The center helps with an athlete's agility, acceleration, speed, strength, quickness, change in direction, vertical jump, power and more," he said.

Menendez added that if an athlete is serious about getting a sports scholarship to a college, it's important to train young.

"It's our vision that when people talk about a place where athletes can improve their speed and agility skills, they will talk about the PEAC at The Club at Woodbridge," said Marmelstein.

The center utilizes the certified trainers at The Club.

"We do a lot of this already, where trainers have one-on-one sessions … this center is for small groups of six where the group can work on one type of skill for one-hour sessions," said Marmelstein.

At the end of the session, each athlete will receive an assessment on what areas they did well in and what areas they need improvement in.

Ralph Antonello, of Carteret, who came to watch his grandson, Dominic Caraballo, 10, participate in the program, said he thought the new program was outstanding.

"It gives the baseline for the kids who really are serious and provides assessments on what is needed to be worked on," said Antonello, who added that his grandson plays baseball, basketball and football and runs spring track and cross country.

Dominic's mother, Allyson Thompson, of Woodbridge, said she thought the program was a great idea.

"My son is enjoying it, and I know all the kids like it," she said.

For more information, call Jeff Marmelstein at 732-634-5000, ext. 141.