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Our Mission

Strides Training and Recovery Systems exists for one reason: to provide performance enhancement training for athletes of all levels. Athletes trained range from junior high school students to All Stars in almost every major professional sport.​

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Mike, Teddy and our Staff have been training athletes and clients for years day in and day out 24/7/365 days a year. Our experience and our passion for knowledge delivers results.

 

No matter your experience, history, age, or injury/issue We work to get you in the best physical and mental shape and at the highest level - We get you signed. 

Our team

Michael Derecola

Founder, Strength & Conditioning, Sports Medicine

Owner, Coach, Father

Michael spent 10 years in Professional Hockey as a Certified Athletic Trainer (NATA) & Strength Coach (NSCA). His professional career started with an internship position with the Philadelphia Flyers (1998-1999). Michael's first dual position was with the Hunnignton Blizzard in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) from 1999-2000. The following two years was spent with tthe Charlotte Checkers (2000-2002). During his time in Charlotte, he had the opportunity to work with USA Hockey and their Youth Development Camps. Plus had the opportunuty to assist with the NY Rangers NHL Camp in 2001. In 2002, Michael was offered the Head Athletic Trainer & Strength Coach position with the Syracuse Crunch. The NHL affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL). He assisted with the Columbus Blue Jackets Rookie Camps and NHL Camps. He has a vast sports medicine background and experience evaluating, treating and rehabing sport injuries. Plus Michael has great knowledge and years of experience as a professional hockey strength & conditioning coach working with excepetional athletes.

 

Upon his arrival in Syracuse, NY, Michael formed Strides of CNY LLC in 2003. The Performance & Recovery facility continued to expand and advance with each passing year. Since 2003, Strides has developed four 1st round NHL draft picks, two 2nd round NHL draft picks, and a few 3rd, 4th and 5th round draft picks. The staff also had the opportunity to work with and develop the following athletes in the Premier Hockey Federation (NWHL), Womens Pro Soccer League, Pro Indoor Soccer, Pro MMA Fighter, NFL, MLB, and the Professional Lacrosse League. In addition, Micahel and the staff developed and continues to provide high-end training and recovery programs for Division I/II/III college ahletes, Juniors, Prep School, High School, and pre-teen athletes!

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Michael also worked with the following colleges as their Head Streang & Condiitoning Coach: SUNY Oswego Women's Hockey, Softball, Swimming (2011-2013).  SUNY Cortland Mens Ice Hockey 2015 & 2016, Le Moyne College (2009-2015; two National D-II Championships Mens Lacrosse, plus several Womens Lacrosse League Championships & D-II Final Four showings). During 2013-2014, Michael also served as the Utica Comets (AHL) Head Strength & Conditioning Coach. He assited with the Vancouver Canucks NHL camp.

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Foremost Michael is a proud father to his daughter, Collins June (CJ) and resides with his signifacant other Tori in Parish, NY.

Education:

  • Bacholers West Chester University of Pa, Sports Medicine

Certifications:

  • Certified Athletic Trainer | National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA)

  • NYS Registered ATC

  • Certified BLS/CPR for Healthcare | American Red Cross 

Teddy KOpytowski II

Strength & Conditioning

Entrepreneur, Coach, Food Innovator

Teddy Kopytowski is an expert in the fields of Strength and Conditioning, Functional Training, general fitness and Whole-Food, Plant-Based Nutrition for Health & Performance. He currently spends his time Coaching, teaching, learning, training and innovating food through Teddie Eddie's.

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Prior to Joining Strides, Teddy worked under coaches of the Boston Red Sox and Yankees strength and conditioning throughout high school. After exploring many programs learning and while studying Biological Sciences at LeMoyne College, in 2011 Teddy joined Strides and fell in love with a training system that was like no other he has ever seen before. Teddy has served with Michael Derecola as the Strength and Conditioning Coach at Strides and at LeMoyne College, SUNY Oswego, and SUNY Cortland in that time.

 

During his time at Strides, Teddy has helped to Enhance Strides Training Systems Introducing Performance and High Performance Training Systems optimizing and developing programs to serve each client highly focused on obtaining a maximum return of results as fast as possible. With this Teddy has sought after to become the leader in all around CARE for the athlete and client, expanding Strides to include a larger private facility, and launching Strides very first Recovery Systems Lounge & Amenities including Whole Body Cryotherapy, Compression Garments, Sports Medicine Treatment Programs, and much more!

 

In addition to his duties at Strides, Teddy also serves to provide top of the line nutrition to Enhance Performance and Health all while making food a delicious experience through his restaurant and Evidence-Based Plant-Based Whole-food nutrition at Teddie Eddie's.

Education:

  • Bachelors LeMoyne College, Biological Sciences

  • Bachelors SUNY Cortland, Kinesiology: Exercise Science 

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