Athletic Republic Shelby-Commerce lives by our mantra, “We Know Athletes” — our pledge, backed by over 33 years of fine-tuning athlete performance. We pride ourselves in understanding the unique needs of athletes across various sports. This commitment to excellence is vividly illustrated in our recent collaboration with professional lacrosse player Zach Currier. We had the pleasure of training Currier at our AR Commerce center located in Oakland County, Michigan, during his most recent National Lacrosse League (NLL) season.

To say Currier has had an impact on the sport of lacrosse during a time of immense growth of the sport would be an understatement. Originally from Peterborough, Ontario, Currier has become a standout figure in lacrosse at every level. His illustrious career includes playing collegiately for Princeton, where he graduated with an engineering degree while he played all four years and earned two All-American honors to go along with two First Team All-Ivy League seasons.

Currier was then drafted 3rd overall by the Calgary Roughnecks in the National Lacrosse League (NLL), and 6th overall in Major League Lacrosse (MLL) by the Denver Outlaws in 2017. He won a championship in just his second season in both professional lacrosse leagues. Currier then transitioned to the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL), where he was selected 1st overall by the Philadelphia Waterdogs in 2020. He again won a championship in his second season in 2021, where he was a Finalist for the Jim Brown MVP Award, and won the Gait Brothers Midfielder of the Year Award. This success was achieved by scoring 11 goals, recording 11 assists, and leading the league as a non-faceoff specialist with 51 ground balls. Further, he has played indoor, outdoor, and sixes for team Canada while being elected as team captain. Beyond his on-field prowess, he has served as the president of the National Lacrosse Players Association since 2020. He also serves as a brand ambassador and equipment engineer for Warrior Lacrosse, located in Shelby Township, MI.

Currier at Athletic Republic:

After relocating to Michigan in the summer of 2023, Currier was looking for a new home to train, and chose Athletic Republic Shelby-Commerce. He was drawn by our reputation in the lacrosse community and facilities specifically designed for high level performance training.

“Athletic Republic Commerce stuck out to me because of the turf giving me the freedom to do sport specific training. I also saw they were the partnered gym of the USA Lacrosse team, so I thought that would be a pretty fitting spot for me to be. Even though I’m playing for team Canada at least it’s lacrosse specific and they know what I’m doing on the floor and on the field.”

Our state-of-the-art center, equipped with advanced turf areas and proprietary training protocols and equipment, perfectly matched his needs for sport-specific training. Choosing Athletic Republic enabled Currier to enhance his game, improve his speed, and boost his stamina.

“I feel like this is one of the best years I’ve been conditioning wise. It’s really shown on the field in my ability to play more minutes.”

Currier averaged three days per week during his in-season training program, which included plyometrics, specialized treadmill sessions, and targeted strength training. These sessions were specifically structured to not only challenge him but also to simulate the typical stresses and movements experienced during intense lacrosse matches.

“I was very skeptical at first about the backpedal on the treadmill, but it turned out it was the hardest thing for me to do training wise. It ended up strengthening my legs more than I thought it would. I ended up developing muscles I didn’t even know were there… It just goes to show that no matter what kind of training I was doing on the floor or in the gym myself, there were some muscles I wasn’t hitting and AR helped me find them.”

Currier’s dedication to his training at Athletic Republic isn’t solely focused on his own development—it also motivates other athletes. From youth to collegiate athletes that are also training while he’s in the building, they get to see the grind of a true professional at the top of his game. His consistent progress and ability to refine his skills validate the quality of our training programs. For those aiming to excel in sports, Currier’s disciplined approach highlights the significance of regular, targeted training and the use of advanced sports science, even while in-season.

“I really enjoyed the plyometrics and treadmill work. I thought my running form got a lot more efficient and I’ve seen results on the field. I’m in better shape, I’m a little bit quicker and feel faster so great results from training with Athletic Republic.”

At Athletic Republic, we are committed to aiding athletes at every level, from emerging talents to experienced professionals. Currier’s journey exemplifies how our center supports top-tier athletes by providing them with essential tools and training to succeed. His success underscores our goal to turn potential into outstanding performance.

His advice to youth athletes just starting their athletic journey as a lacrosse player:

“First thing in lacrosse is to keep that stick in your hand. Get as much wall ball in as possible. Your stick should be your best friend and you have to keep that thing with you as much as you can. As for Athletic Republic (Commerce) coming in there, they’ve got the space, they’ve got the nets. Get in there and train and work on your skills if the turf is free outside of your workouts. The running form is something I wish I was able to work on from a young age. I was never really taught how to run efficiently, I was just naturally a better runner than the average kid. I never worked on form or efficiency and coming into Athletic Republic and breaking that down to a science has been very beneficial for me. I’m a math and science guy so it all makes sense in my brain and I’m trying to implement it as best I can as a 29 year old.” He went on to describe how it would have been even more beneficial had he started at a younger age as a youth athlete. “Just gotta put in the work, it’s not just going to happen. Everyone who gets to the professional level that they are at, puts in the work.”

We look forward to catching Zach as he ramps up for his PLL season this summer with the Philadelphia Waterdogs.

“Athletic Republic is a spot I see myself training for the foreseeable future. I’m really excited to see how it can help in the field lacrosse game this summer. With the plyometrics, I really felt more explosive with my dodging. Currently I’m in a defensive role in the NLL so I haven’t put that to the test yet. But that’s one of the things I’m really excited about for this upcoming season is putting my plyometric work into my dodging routines to see where I can get more explosive movements and more separation from defensemen so I’m really looking forward to seeing how that pans out.”

You can catch our full sit-down conversation with Currier on our YouTube page, HERE.

Interested in boosting your athletic abilities and achieving results like Currier? Contact Athletic Republic today. Explore our tailored training programs designed to enhance your strength, speed, and endurance, both on and off the field. Join us and experience how our commitment to athlete development can propel you to reach your peak performance!