DOWN THE STRETCH
WITH IJGA DIRECTOR OF STRENGTH & CONDITIONING SHAWN MEHRING
Do you participate in 5K, 10K, triathlons, etc.
I do not! However, on our IJGA campus, 1 lap around the
main loop is a 5K. So I will do that from time-to-time.
Outside of work, what do you like to do during your
“down” time?
Photography, cooking, running around with my son,
exercising, and relaxing.
Favorite meal:
I don’t think I have a favorite meal, I love food too much to
just pick one thing.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Annandale, New Jersey.
Where did you attend school and what degree(s) did you
earn?
I attended Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee
where I played Division 1 baseball for 4 years. I earned a
Bachelor of Science degree in K-12 Health and Physical
Education.
How did you get interested in fitness?
I got interested in fitness in high school. I did not start
working out in a gym until I was 14 years old and training
“year-round” for baseball. I was always interested in science
and mainly how things worked, especially the human body.
My strength and conditioning coach at Lipscomb University,
Coach John Hudy, is who excited me about becoming a
strength coach. He is a very laid back person, but expected
a lot from his athletes. His brain is a book of knowledge
about biomechanics and exercise science. I would often
go sit in his office when I was studying for tests and I
would ask him questions about my classwork and he could
explain the hardest concepts so easily so that anyone could
understand. That’s how like to model my coaching, “keep it
simple” but make sure my athletes understand why.
What type of training do you do?
I like all types of training, except cardio (but I do it anyway
because it has many benefits!). I like to be challenged in the
gym, CrossFit is good for that (but not necessarily for the
rotational athlete). Olympic lifting is probably my favorite
(snatch, clean and jerk) because you can lift heavy and fast,
but you have to be careful if you don’t have a proper coach
or understand Olympic biomechanics fully.
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Favorite local restaurant:
I have a few! In Bluffton: Captain Woody’s. On Hilton Head:
Skull Creek Boathouse, and in Beaufort: Papaya Thai and
Sushi Bar.
Favorite place(s) you’ve ever visited:
Italy, Greenville (SC), Destin (FL), and my all time favorite
Cape May, New Jersey.
Favorite music ... musician, band or genre:
I like all types of music except Rap, but my favorite genre is
classic rock. My favorite band is the Eagles.
List three things your co-workers probably don’t know
about you ...
1) I am adopted from Romania
2) I play 4 instruments (Bass, saxophone, drums, and
guitar) - I was strongly considering majoring in musical
engineering/production. I played in almost every band
my schooling had to offer (Jazz band, concert band, pit
orchestra, saxophone quartet, and sang in the select mixed
choir in high school).
3) I am insanely scared of heights.
Name any Awards / Accolades / Titles / Claim to Fame!
- High school: Was given a Perfect Game rating of 8 -
which considered me as a potential MLB draft pick and/or
excellent college prospect.
- College: 2012 Ken Dugan Award (baseball programs
top character/leadership award), 2012 National Strength
and Conditioning Association Male Athlete of the Year for
Lipscomb University, and 2010 most improved and coaches
award.
- I am a Titleist Performance Institute Fitness and Medical
Level 2 Certified Expert