WHEELING – A Shadyside High product is becoming a pioneer in the field of athletic training.

Josh Pyles, a former Tigers’ grid standout, owns and operates Pyles Elite Training Institute in Bethlehem. He has trained a host of Division I athletes.

Pyles is now teaming up with two NFL-experienced gridders to form a new athletic recovery program.

C.J. Goodwin – a former Linsly standout and now an Atlanta Falcon – and Derek Moye (a former Penn State gridder and Steeler) have teamed with Pyles to establish “Elite Recovery.”

“The new process makes use of all the latest and state-of-the-art equipment that the pros use to recover after a hard workout or after a game,” Pyles said. “Our new program helps in finding injuries faster and helps those with injuries recover 200 percent faster, making for a much speedier return to the playing field.

“All of this equipment will be available at my training facility, but most importantly, we will travel to the teams on their selected recovery days and bring all of the equipment,” he added. “We already have five teams jumping on this and this can be used for all sports alike. It is not just for impact sports. The main emphasis is speed and biomechanics with injures prevention protocols,” he noted.

Pyles brings a wealth of credibility and experience to his new venture.

No less than 34 of his clients have earned college scholarships in the last two years. Two are WVU gridders – Mike and Brendan Ferns.

Some of his other training clients include Air Force-bound Hayden Lewis and Penn State thinclad Alyssa Robinson, all four are St. Clairsville High products, as well as Linsly’s Logan Goodnight – a Penn State baseball signee – and Magnolia’s Preston Boswell, headed to Wheeling Jesuit on a basketball scholarship.

Moreover, he has trained Spencer Lee, a two-time gold medalist in the Junior World Wrestling Championships. Pyles also serves as strength coach for Wheeling Jesuit men’s and women’s basketball as well as for the Cardinals’ national champion volleyball team.

Pyles is a certified strength and conditioning specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association and a certified strength and conditioning coach through the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Ohio University in exercise physiology.

In addition to his affiliation with Wheeling Jesuit, Pyles started the strength and conditioning program at State College of Florida. He has also worked at the prestigious IMG Academy in Florida. IMG trains dozens of professional athletes and countless collegians preparing for the NFL combine.