Sports minds merge to launch Xcelerated Athletics
By Cindy Thompson

Donovan Craft (l) and Richard (Big Rich) Williams, owners of Xcelerated Athletics

Donovan Craft and Richard Williams feel right at home with the sounds of referee whistles and cheering fans at Plex Indoor Sports in Northeast Columbia. With a long history as athletes, trainers, and great friends, these two talented sports minds have merged to become ambassadors for physical fitness at the new Xcelerated Athletics training facility inside the Plex.

"'Big Rich' and I met each other at Gardner-Webb University where we played football together," Craft said. "We became very close friends over the years and remain even closer today. I was his best man at his wedding and am one of three godfathers to his son, Xavier."

In July, Craft and Williams joined forces with Plex Indoor Sports and Moore Orthopaedics to bring athletes closer to their peak physical condition. Their new business, Xcelerated Athletics, is located inside Plex Indoor Sports... where it's catching the attention of all types of athletes or just about anyone interested in improving their physical condition.

Walking into the Xcelerated Athletics gym, one immediately notices a unique assortment of equipment that the average fitness guru may not recognize. Craft said, "Some of the pieces of equipment we use are our high speed treadmill, capable of inclines up to 40 degrees, and speeds up to 28 mph, plyo press, pro multi-hip, plyo platform, patented Frappier Acceleration sport cord technology, jump stretch bands, and kettle bells."

The Xcelerated Athletics sports training program works in tandem with Moore Orthopaedics' physical therapy services and meshes well with the Plex's array of teams and clinics. According to Craft, Xcelerated Athletics is designed to train individuals for any kind of sport...baseball, soccer, football, golf, tennis and so forth. Their staff is trained to work with individuals who have been injured and are going through physical rehabilitation. And they create programs for clients who are taking their first steps toward getting into shape.

Their business follows the principals of the Frappier Acceleration Sports Training Program, Craft explained. This program focuses on increasing speed, agility, and overall athletic performance through a combination of sprint exercises, neuromuscular coordination, and anaerobic and aerobic conditioning.

Sixteen-year-old Michael Czulinski has been playing soccer since he was four. He decided to train with Xcelerated Athletics when he was assigned a new position on the Spring Valley High School varsity soccer team. Czulinski is in the process of completing a 23-session program, focusing on speed and agility training.

During the first session, Xcelerated Athletics trainers will introduce Czulinski to each piece of equipment. He will undergo a gait analysis and flexibility test. Trainers will also conduct two testing sessions, one pre-test and one post-test, to assess the athlete's improvement.

"All of our speed testing is done electronically so we can't cheat our athlete and just make it look like we have made them faster simply by testing them easier on their last day," Craft said.

Craft detailed Czulinski's training program. "Being that he is a soccer player, he will have 12 running sessions on the Super Treadmill for his raw speed improvement, and eight plyometric sessions to improve his change-of-direction, first step quickness, and explosiveness. All of this comes together to create a far superior athlete to the one that walked through our door on day one."

The Xcelerated Athletics staff has a strong Columbia connection and a strong connection to high school and college sports.

Craft was a Spring Valley H.S. graduate, where he played football and was selected All-Region and All-State. He played four years of college football at Gardner-Webb University in NC, and he was twice selected All-Conference player for the South Atlantic Conference and the Big South Conference. He was selected All-American his senior year. Craft went on to coach high school and college football teams and began working with amateur and professional athletes as a strength and conditioning coach.

A native of Charlottesville, Va., "Big Rich" Williams excelled in high school track, wrestling, and football. He earned a football scholarship to attend Gardner-Webb University, and he was selected to play on the Blue-Gray and Senior Bowl All-Star teams. He was offered the opportunity to play NFL football, but turned down the offer. ESPN covered Williams' decision to walk away from NFL football, bringing to light the issues and personal struggles that many athletes face when entering into the professional football arena. "Many people told him to just go ahead, get drafted, take the signing bonus, and quit," Craft recalled. "And he remarked, 'How is that any different than walking down the street and robbing a bank? What kind of testimony would I have if I did something like that?'"

Williams went on to work for Team Impact, and became a high school PE teacher and coach.

John Craft, Donovan Craft's father, also works on the Xcelerated Athletics training team. He is a Columbia native who played football, baseball, basketball, and track while attending Columbia High School. After attending USC, he served in the U.S. Army, retired after 30 years with BellSouth, and worked with the Spring Valley High School football team.

For more information about the Xcelerated Athletics program call (803) 788-2118. Or visit www.xathleticscolumbia.com. Xcelerated Athletics is located inside Plex Indoor Sports at 741 Fashion Drive in Northeast Columbia. Contact Xcelerated Athletics staff for information on cost per session. Average cost per hour is about $25.