Training
E
Tim Merolillo of
Wexford offers a
unique gym experience
at Elite Custom Fitness.
are some things you can’t teach people how to do. And you can’t
lite Custom Fitness isn’t your typical gym. There are
teach somebody how to jump up on a 52-inch box.”
no mirrors on the walls. There are no ellipticals or
Since then, Jones has been training five or six days a week, and
treadmills. There’s no locker room or sauna or lap pool.
he also has his own clients at Elite Custom Fitness. All that hard
This gym is a world-class training facility with a tight-
work has paid off—Jones can deadlift 600 pounds.
knit community of members dedicated to fitness and health. Oh,
Merolillo notes that one of the biggest misconceptions of
and a trainer who happens to be one of the top powerlifters in the
powerlifting is that you have to be a big, elite athlete to train for
country—Ross resident Freddie Jones.
the sport. “Passion, dedication and the ability to learn is all you
Tim Merolillo started Elite Custom Fitness in 2011 after
need,” he says. He also adds that women often shy away from
strength training in college, getting his master’s in exercise
powerlifting because
physiology at
they don’t want to get
Indiana University
bulky, but that’s just
of Pennsylvania, and
simply not going to
working at other gyms
happen: “We train for
around Pittsburgh.
performance and we
His passion for
eat for leanness. If you
strength training came
think about that and
after multiple knee
train like that, then
surgeries and lots of
you’ll never have any
physical therapy to
issues.”
recover. “I was originally
Elite Custom
going to be a physical
Fitness’ approach to
therapist, but then I
powerlifting is unique
went to college and
among other gyms.
found strength training.
The trainers help
I wanted to make
their clients focus on
people stronger so they
decompressing the
didn’t get hurt instead
spine. “We are able
of rehabbing people
to train without a
who were coming off of
barbell on our back,
surgery,” Merolillo says.
Elite Custom Fitness’ Dynamic Duo: Tim Merolillo (left) and Freddie Jones.
decompress our spine,
Elite Custom Fitness
and get stronger as we’re
has about 80 members,
doing it. That’s the name of the game if you want to stay healthy
ranging in age from 8 up to nearly 70. Members can come for
and continue doing it for a very long time,” Merolillo says.
open gym hours, group classes, and one-on-one training.
Elite Custom Fitness is located at 1025 Mount Nebo Road. It is
Merolillo first met Jones at La Roche College. Jones was a
open daily from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Stop by for a free consultation
student in two of Merolillo’s classes: Theories of Weight Training
and to learn about personal training and group classes.
and Conditioning. Merolillo says one day the students wanted
Membership starts at $50/month. For additional information,
to learn how to box jump. So he brought out a 6-inch box to start
contact Tim Merolillo at [email protected] or call
and gradually increased the height of the box until just Jones
412.302.2128. n
remained. Merolillo recalls, “He jumped up on a 52-inch box.
When I saw that I thought, ‘Oh, I have to train this kid.’ There
NORTH ALLEGHENY
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FALL 2019
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