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Hinsdale Central athletes toning up at MBC Fitness
Hinsdale Central's Phillip Gutman celebrates after scoring his teams' second goal during their match against Downers Grove North at Hinsdale Central September 3, 2012. | Curtis Lehmkuhl~Sun-Times Media
Updated: October 21, 2012 1:10PM
WESTMONT — Phillip Gutman wanted to improve his soccer game after last season, so he hired a personal trainer.
What Gutman may not have expected was that much of his workout was similar to what hockey players go through at MBC Fitness.
Bruce Metcalf, the co-owner of MBC Fitness, does not believe in sports-specific training, but his business in downtown Westmont has area athletes knocking down his door.
Gutman is among several current and former Hinsdale Central athletes who have sought out Metcalf. Gutman is a captain and senior midfielder who has already scored three goals for the Red Devils entering the week.
Gutman began working with Metcalf after finals in January and trained twice a week at MBC Fitness until preseason practice began in August. Metcalf also works with Gutman’s brother, Andrew, a Hinsdale Central sophomore who participates in club soccer full-time and does not play for the Devils.
“There was a percentage of the offseason where I wanted to work on my speed,” Gutman said. “I thought I lacked that. I also did not have the endurance like you want.”
“Phillip has done a really nice job (this season),” Devils coach Mike Wiggins said. “He knows when to get forward and when to pass off to guys.”
Each session lasts a half hour. Gutman said Metcalf uses boxes for agility drills and sometimes he’s required to push a 45-pound sled.
“It just kills you,” Gutman said. “He does not take it easy. There is not break.”
Another of MBC’s former clients is Andrew Worthington, a former Devils soccer player now competing for Colorado College. Last season as a freshman, Worthington started 14 of 19 games for the Tigers.
Metcalf has worked with many high school hockey players over the years, including some from Hinsdale Central, but Gutman is one of the first from the soccer team. Hinsdale Central’s girls tennis players have sought out Metcalf, who trained graduates Erika Marschall (2010) and Jen Bush (2011) and currently works with Caroline Lorenzini, the two-time defending state champion at doubles along with Marika Cusick.
Metcalf was a bond trader for 20 years, but has run MBC for the past six years after starting the business with his ex-wife.
“I spend an hour and a half every night coming up with a game plan on how to work with these kids,” Metcalf said.
