Barwis Methods, Plymouth

Anyone who’s followed the fate of the pigskin on a crisp autumn Saturday is familiar with Mike Barwis’s work, whether they realize it or not. As the former Director of Strength and Conditioning at the University of Michigan and West Virginia University, Barwis spent years forging iron-like athletes including playmakers such as Steve Slaton, Pat White, and Brandon Minor. Now, he splits his time, consulting for the New York Mets and overseeing operations at Barwis Methods, where he and his staff promote fitness through boot-camp classes, strength-training programs, and personal-training sessions. When bolstering the fitness of everyday exercisers, Barwis’s personal trainers draw upon their own experience with the nation’s athletic elite; between them, they have trained numerous collegiate all-Americans, Olympians, and professional athletes, including more than 225 NFL players and four Puppy Bowl participants.