Athlete Training Testimonials 
Ross realized that he needed to make a major investment in his strength, flexibility and agility in order to get recruited to play at the collegiate level. He was blessed with natural size and strength but he wanted to improve beyond his own high school’s strength program.
We were also looking for advice and counsel regarding the general college football recruiting process. We were referred to California Strength by the strength coach at University of California, Berkeley.
Ross improved his strength and agility quite a bit. These have been demonstrated during combines and evaluations at colleges this past summer where he attracted interest from several college coaches. He was also invited to compete in two elite national combines. In addition, he has an enthusiastic work-ethic about both athletic training and academics.
I recommend Cal Strength highly to any parent whose child is serious about athletics at the collegiate level. There is a large investment of time and effort required and you should think carefully about the dedication required from your son or daughter. Our own experience has been very positive and a lot of fun.
Dave Spitz has been a great coach. He has also provided excellent perspective and guidance about college football recruiting.
- Mike and Kathy Dolbec
Ross Dolbec, Miramonte High School, Football· Just accepted to University of Washington as a recruited walk on!
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“For my son AJ, it was important to Brenda and I that he learn proper technique in all of the weightlifting movements to avoid injury in the weight room. AJ started at California Strength when he was 13 years old and playing T-Bird Football. He has not only gotten much stronger, he is also more flexible and explosive as a result of his training. He has put on 30 pounds of lean muscle and had a very successful Freshman Football season at De La Salle. In the 25+ years I’ve been coaching, California Strength is the best I have seen. We highly recommend their programs.”
– Jeff Puckett
AJ Puckett, De La Salle High School, Football and Baseball
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“My son was a sophomore in high school and he is big, strong, smart, fast and ambitious. But he was having trouble pulling it all together to be as effective as he could be both on the field and in the classroom. He was getting bits and pieces of information and guidance from his coaches, his friends, the Internet, the media and his parents. California Strength takes an integrated approach to sports that includes strength training, proper technique, conditioning, time management, discipline, nutrition and also a large dose of life coaching. The team there is experienced, engaging, respectful and they listen. They helped him strengthen a knee that was injured and is now a non-issue. They helped him train for a football combine where he excelled. They focus on his strengths as well as his weaknesses. Since he started going there, what he is learning in the gym and on the field is spilling over into his scholastic and personal life. I can recommend California Strength very highly for the positive impact they have had on him. It is great watching him go from good to excellent.”
- Sam L. Teichman, MD, FACC, FESC, FACP
Ben Teichman, San Ramon Valley High School, Football and Track and Field· Just accepted to University of Washington as a recruited walk on!
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“Dave and the coaches at Cal Strength are the best you can find, hands down. Their expertise (combined with an athlete with drive) WILL make the athlete more explosive (stronger, run faster, jump higher, with increased flexibility), and less prone to injury.
If you’re OK with just “making the team”, Cal Strength is not for you. If you are truly dedicated to being a weapon in your chosen sport, audition with Dave and the guys, and get ready for results. Cal Strength, San Ramon, is the ultimate authority when it comes to enhancing athletic performance for young athletes.”
– Gary Kilbourn
Nikita Zamora, Monte Vista High School, Football and Track and Field
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Anthony’s friend was working out at California Strength and invited Anthony to join him as a guest. Anthony was very impressed with what he saw – the hands on approach and positive and encouraging atmosphere. Dave allowed Anthony to “try on the gym” for a session and then invited us in to learn more about the program and we were equally as impressed. We found California Strength to be very different from the typical gym as they specialize in developing young high school and junior high school athletes who are at a critical juncture in their lives, both athletically and personally.
Anthony started at Cal Strength the summer after his sophomore year and as he was joining the varsity football team at San Ramon Valley High. In a very short period of time, we saw a significant increase in Anthony’s confidence, maturity, physical strength and technical skills. Anthony’s experience at Cal Strength has been as much (if not more) about his personal growth as his physical growth. We also saw an improvement in Anthony’s work ethic, personal responsibility and grades as Dave stresses the importance of education and discipline both inside and outside the gym.
Soon after Anthony joined the gym for football conditioning, he got involved in Olympic weightlifting which has also proven to be a great experience. As an individual sport Anthony has learned about the importance of competing against himself as well as other members of his weight class. Having attended two national meets, Anthony has learned to dedicate himself and handle the demands and stress of competing at these levels. – a great life lesson. Outside of family, California Strength has had the biggest impact on Anthony’s life thus far and has contributed largely to the person he is today.
We would highly recommend Cal Strength for the following reasons:
- First and foremost, the entire team at Cal Strength genuinely cares about the boys they train and coach; mentorship as well as technical training is available at Cal Strength
- The entire team is dedicated to the development of their athletes both in and out of the gym
- Cal Strength is very technically sound from their training programs, techniques, nutrition to work ethic and accountability
- Cal Strength specializes and is dedicated to high school and junior high school student athletes
- Cal Strength is committed to its surrounding schools and community
- Jim and Celeste Gurule
Anthony Gurule, San Ramon Valley High School, Football and Olympic Weightlifting· Just accepted to Arizona State University!
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I heard about California Strength from the San Ramon Valley T-Birds. My son had finished his first year with the football program and started at a serious disadvantage. He hadn’t played before and many on his teammates had been playing for 4 years or more. We witnessed just how well conditioned many of them were and the emphasis the T-Birds put on conditioning. Going into year two we accepted that he would always be a little behind in terms of playing experience but he could use conditioning as his advantage. After watching my son finish up the month of August in his second year with the T-Birds it’s obvious that the time working with David and the team at California Strength was well spent.
Joining Pop Warner football relatively late compared to other kids my son was struggling not just to learn the game of football but also with a very different type of conditioning compared to the other youth sports he plays. His first year playing he was learning the game and struggling to keep up with the pace of practices. While he loved the sport on Saturdays he wasn’t playing as much as he’d like.
Prior to his second year he was working out with California Strength. This year he’s starting on offense and making a serious push to start defensively as well. I credit much of this to the program David put together. My son is well conditioned, but more importantly because of that he has a lot more self confidence and it shows on the field. The greatest testament to all of this happened the other night at practice when one of the coaches pulled me aside and said, “In all of my years coaching I’ve never seen such an improvement in a player from one year to the next.”
Sometimes I think I wouldn’t recommend California Strength….It’s kind of a secret weapon that I don’t know I want too many people knowing about. Joking aside, I would absolutely recommend California Strength. I can’t think of a better place for an athlete to come and condition. Not only are the instructors fantastic the other participants are very encouraging. Athletes from middle school to professionals all are there ready to lend a hand and offer words of support.
A lot of folks expressed concern about my son lifting at a young age. After doing some research and speaking to the professionals at California Strength I was comfortable in the program that David designed for my son. I really think that learning proper technique under the guidance of true professionals will not only give my son an advantage now but also help to protect him from injury down the road.
- Curt Kundred
Jack Kundred, Stone Valley Middle School, Football
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I wanted my son to have the best opportunity to reach his potential as a thrower. As a thrower, you need a strong foundation in explosive lifts (Olympic Lifts) as well as one on one coaching in throws techniques. The coaches and atmosphere at California Strength made it a simple decision to join.
There is no equivalent at the High School level to what California Strength can offer on both fronts. In fact, there are less than a handful of Division 1 programs that are on a par with California Strength. This made the decision a no brainer. For the parent of an athlete, it is an intelligent investment and no less important than investing in ACT/SAT prep, tutors and other child enrichment programs. It was the smartest thing I ever did in terms of opening doors for my son.
Stephen has always been highly motivated. That was never an issue. The issue is how do you sustain a high level of motivation and coach kids through the tough times. Dave excels at this and Stephen respects him for knowing how to handle every aspect of his training, including the “bad days”. Stephen was always going to be a good thrower given his dedication, but Dave made him a great thrower. Dave also has street credibility with college coaches. It was his recommendation that got Stephen “looks” at top notch schools and subsequent offers. I cannot think of a more positive result than to end up at the best Public University in the world, UC Berkeley. I can say unequivocally that without Dave’s coaching, mentoring and contacts, Steve would not have had the opportunities that he had. How do you put a value on that?
I could spend 5 minutes with any parent who wants their kid to excel and convince them Cal Strength is the right environment. The goal should be allow the student athlete to reach their potential, not necessarily play D1 sports. Cal Strength makes kids feel good about themselves because it is an environment that makes it possible for kids to reach their inner potential. That is the ultimate reward and in the end, that’s what makes parents proud.
My son is not the only person who trains at Cal Strength. I train almost daily and I can’t tell you how much I look forward to going to the facility every day. The environment is friendly, the trainers are world class and I love watching the high school and college athletes get better week by week. You never feel intimidated in spite of the fact that the gym, at times, is filled with NFL, D1, top high school athletes as well as some of the elite Olympic Weightlifters in the world.
- Mark Burke
Stephen Burke, UC Berkeley, Track and Field
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We were introduced to David by Mark Burke while at NCS during Scott’s Junior year in High School. He highly recommended David and the California Strength lifting program.
Scott’s weight-lifting technique and personal bests increased considerably during his time at Cal Strength. Scott has told me on numerous occasions that it was only with David’s encouragement that he reached a new PR. Dave has been instrumental in pushing Scott to achieve higher results.
I would recommend Cal Strength to anyone who is willing to put in the work required to be the best they can be at their particular sport. California Strength provides the opportunity to train in an environment with elite athletes and coaches, and provides a unique atmosphere for pushing your limits.
It is fair to say that Scott would not be at UC Berkeley today if it were not for Dave’s assistance. Dave arranged for Scott to be seen by the coaching staff at Cal, both while lifting at California Strength and during an open meet on the Berkeley campus. This exposure, in addition to the weight-lifting techniques taught and lift numbers achieved, were largely responsible for Scott’s acceptance to Berkeley and opportunity to participate as a student athlete at the Division 1 college level.
We cannot thank Dave enough for the countless hours he spent working with Scott, and the opportunity to attend one of the world’s great academic institutions.
-Tony Esparza
Scott Esparza, UC Berkeley, Track and Field
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We learned about California Strength through the San Ramon Bears Youth Football Program. We knew that we wanted Sean to make the switch to the T-Birds this season and were looking for something that would help improve his speed and agility, endurance, and overall strength and ensure that he would make the roster in a very competitive program.
We noticed that Sean was getting stronger almost immediately but the results really became apparent once baseball season started. Sean was consistently hitting even bad pitches for extra base hits and whenever we played at fields with fences he was banging balls off the wall. Sean was noticeably faster on the base paths and had the arm strength to throw out runners even on the toughest plays.
Once football started, Sean’s trainers (Dave, Max, John) told him he would be a “men among boys” on the field in terms of physical strength and this was absolutely the case. At the end of the second week, despite being new to the T-Bird program, Sean was named a starter on both offense and defense. By the end of August he was also playing on Special Teams and was recently named as a captain.
In addition to improving Sean’s physical ability, I really feel that California Strength has improved Sean’s mental attitude and his approach to training, nutrition, and game preparation. As a result, Sean has become a much better overall athlete and I know these benefits will translate to whatever sport he chooses to try.
I absolutely would recommend California Strength. Sean’s coaches and many of his teammates parents have commented on his physical strength and appearance (“wow, he’s ripped!”) and have asked me our ‘secret’. I have referred them to California Strength and have said many times that of all the money I have spent on youth sports this was the best investment.
In the beginning, we were concerned that Sean was too young to start weight training, but Dave convinced us to give it a try. All of the trainers were EXCELLENT with someone Sean’s age (12) and the other members of the gym mentored, encouraged, and supported Sean every step of the way. It’s really a great group of people and our family is very happy to have gotten involved with California Strength
- Robert Rimar
Sean Rimar, Stone Valley Middle School, Football and Baseball
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I had worked with David all throughout high school so when coming home for summer it was a no brainer to me on where I wanted to do my weight training. The gym has a great atmosphere, and it really makes you motivated to work hard. There is no one else I would trust with my weight training besides California Strength.
I have witnessed immense results since working out at California Strength. I am now one of the strongest athletes on my team, and find it much easier to get through tough workouts. My body has been able to withstand much harder workouts that previous years as well. My speed has greatly improved which in turn has dropped my times significantly. When I went back to college after this past summer my coaches were amazed at my strength and the level of training I have been able to do.
If you are serious about your sport and going to the next level then I would definitely recommend you go to California Strength. There is no other place around that has the knowledge to get you to where you want to be. This is not 24 hour fitness with amateur trainers, these guys are professionals and the top in the business.
- Brett Zorich, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Track and Field
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Working out at California strength has been one of the best things we have done to improve my sons athletic performance. My oldest boy came to Cal Strength barely understanding how to lift correctly. Now with the support and training he has received, he is the starting QB/DE on De La Salle’s JV football team. We were so impressed with his gains that we enrolled our other son into the Cal Strength program. After a few months of training our 14 year old is now hitting “bombs” and as a pitcher is throwing “gas”.
The Cal Strength team understands the importance of building a strong foundation for future growth. Dave Spitz and his staff have the knowledge and patience to help make young athletes winners. For anyone looking to significantly improve their young athletes performance, I highly recommend training with Dave and the team at California Strength.
- Michael Hooper
Austin and Justin Hooper, De La Salle High School, Football and Baseball
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We first became aware of California Strength when David met Jake during a track meet in 2009. Jake was a sophomore throwing the shot put and discus and David invited him to the gym for a trial session. Jake loved it! We were so impressed with the workouts that David created and knew it would be a good fit. When our daughter Katie, Triple Jumper at UNLV, wanted to start working out at California Strength, we already knew that she’d get similar results.
Where should I start on the positive results? We’ve seen both Katie and Jake increase their strength and stamina tremendously since they’ve been working out at California Strength. They are both setting PR’s routinely and they really enjoy their training sessions. Both of them actually have some joint problems (knees, elbows, etc.) but the workouts are
structured in such a way that they haven’t had any extra strain on their joints. They continuously increase the difficulty
of their workouts and it shows on the field. Jake had a great throwing season as a Junior and was able to medal in shot put at the Meet of Champions in Berkeley. Katie and Jake are stronger and more confident due to their workouts and we’re sure that both of them will have great track successes this year.
We not only would recommend California Strength to people, we definitely have! Jake always wears his California Strength
t-shirt at meets and we constantly sing their praises to everyone. David and the other staff members make it clear that they
expect a commitment from Katie and Jake and in return the kids have seen the results of that hard work. Both of them love going to California Strength and it has been just about the best thing that’s happened in our kids’ athletic endeavors.
- Herb and Sef Rounds
Katie and Jake Rounds, UNLV and Heritage High School, Football and Track and Field
