Get fit at Greatness Athletics Fitness Center in Tarentum

Gary Negley started a gym in his parents Laura and Randy Negley’s basement with three pair of dumbbells, a medicine ball, speed ladder, some cones and his dad’s old weight bench.

He worked on not only crunches and dead lifts but also on helping others in a workout, all while learning how to run a business.

Now he is combining those cumulative skills to open Greatness Athletics Fitness Center. The 3,000-square-foot Tarentum location offers a wide range of equipment — free weights, kettle bells, dumbbells and cardio machines.

And that’s just the beginning of what will be available. Negley plans to continue to add additional equipment and other amenities, such as showers, in the future.

There’s a grand opening at 11 a.m. Oct. 27 for Greatness Athletics Fitness Center, which will be open 24 hours, seven days a week. He wants people to have the flexibility to work out when it’s convenient for them.

With this gym, the Highlands High School graduate says he wants to bring positivity to the Alle-Kiski Valley community where he grew up.

“I’ve always wanted to have my own gym since I was a teenager,” he says. “I’m motivated to be successful while doing something I’ve always loved and wanted to do. I’m chasing my dream.”

The credentials

Negley, 26, of Brackenridge is an International Sports Sciences Association trainer and has worked with adults and children for four years at other gyms.

The venture has taken a few years to come to fruition, as with a fitness program in which each workout builds on the previous one to reach the final result.

A lifelong athlete, Negley says his goal for the gym is to accommodate the fitness needs of everyone — from someone who is just beginning to work out, to someone who wants to lose weight, to the person aspiring to be the next top model.

“Health and fitness are so important. I want to help (my clients) be fit,” he says. “That’s why, wherever I am working out, if I see someone doing something wrong, I will tell them. I don’t want them to get injured.”

Getting a workout

Zach Adams, a junior at Burrell High School who wants to get in shape for wrestling, was working recently with trainer Cody Rainey of Leechburg. Adams heard about Negley’s gym on Instagram.

“I want to get stronger and faster,” Adams says. “I just started, but I like the one-on-one workout with a trainer.”

The right trainer makes all the difference, Negley says.

“It’s important to have a good relationship with your trainer. It makes the lesson go faster and, when you know the client, that creates a good rapport,” he says. “When you have that rapport, you understand what the client wants and needs in a workout.

“The right environment really helps, and it motivates the client to want to come back.”

Wear it well

Negley also has created his own clothing line — Greatness Sportswear. Apparel options includes hoodies for $30, dri-fit tank tops for $20, dri-fit T-shirts for $25, as well as hats.

He plans to add leggings and other items to the collection, which can be purchased at the gym.

Greatness Athletics Fitness Center is located at 222 Fourth Ave., Tarentum. Memberships are $25 per month, $20 per month with a yearlong commitment.

Details: 724-681-8629 or facebook.com/Greatness- Athletics