Johnstown fitness center partners with Special Olympics PA for program

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WTAJ) — MorGainz Fitness West Hills in Johnstown is partnering with Special Olympics PA to help athletes work out together and build friendships.
It's for the Unified Fitness Program, a 12-week fitness program that can occur during the off-season or in conjunction with seasonal sports training. According to Special Olympics PA, in Unified Fitness, athletes and Unified partners train together for one-hour-long sessions, twice a week. They're also provided a digital guidebook containing workouts, instructional videos, and health education.
May 20 was the first session for the program. It will continue on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Volunteers needed for Special Olympics Pennsylvania summer games
'We want to give everyone the tools to be successful going forward. It's not just about these 12 weeks. It's about…knowing what things to eat…to stay hydrated… how to strengthen our muscles, and how important cardiovascular health is. All of those things are so important with this program,' Phoenix Stratemeier, Owner of MorGainz Elite Cycle & COO of MorGainz Fitness, said.
Carly Cline is a coach for the program. She plans to teach spin, strength training and flexibility.
'I decided to be the coach because I have a child with special needs. So, I've been in and around the community for 20 years, and it was just something near and dear to my heart. And I just wanted to help,' Cline said.
The program will coincide with the summer games in June, which is perfect for athletes like Ashlee Ragan.
'It will help me be more courageous in my attempts,' Ragan said.
Ashlee is excited about getting medals and meeting new people. She said the box people try to put her and other people in won't stop her.
'They do it and they should not because we are capable of doing things,' Ragan said.
If you are interested in being a unified partner, you can email cstein@specialolympicspa.org, or message MorGainz Elite Cycle on Facebook.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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