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MHS grad returns to work for family business

T-R PHOTO BY SARA JORDAN-HEINTZ Grant Carnahan grew up in the sports medicine/physical therapy business, but didn’t see it as a career path until his college years. Now, he’s returned to Marshalltown to work as coordinator of the PEAK Performance Program at his family’s business, SportsPlus.

Grant Carnahan grew up in the sports medicine/physical therapy business, but didn’t see it as a career path until his college years. Now, he’s returned to Marshalltown to work as coordinator of the PEAK Performance Program at his family’s business, SportsPlus.

A 2010 graduate of Marshalltown High School, Grant attended Iowa Western Community College then went on to Grand View University. He played football as a defensive lineman.

“After community college, I came back and worked as an aid for my dad and discovered my passion, then went to Grandview for kinesiology (the study of human or non-human body movement),” Grant said.

He also completed an internship at Purdue University, training athletes.

His father, Scott Carnahan, founded SportsPlus in 1999 at 32 E. Main St., its current location. He’s been a certified trainer for 31 years and a physical therapist for 27 years. Scott said he is excited to have his son working for him.

“I find it very exciting, because I’ve seen his passion for it. I know the kind of reputation he established in Des Moines as being an excellent trainer and having a very strong following there, and to be able to bring that back here and be in the mentor role on a professional level, is just a unique and exciting opportunity for me,” he said.

Scott and Grant said they are happy that SportsPlus has also recently become a MOG (Medically Oriented Gym).

“It’s a program we’ve just become a part of, and basically it’s to help people with a lower level of health and chronic conditions become more physically active and control health issues with the physical activity,” Scott said.

After graduating from Grandview in 2016, Grant spent two years working as a personal trainer in both group and individual settings at the Aspen Athletic Clubs – Merle Hay location in Des Moines.

Grant has several goals in running the PEAK Performance Program, which SportsPlus started in 2003.

“I want to get the program off and running and get it to a point where I can help it grow and help me grow, as far as my knowledge of strength and conditioning,” Grant said.

Looking to the future, Grant said he has an interest in offering Saturday morning group fitness classes. He would like to someday attend graduate school and work in a collegiate setting.

For more information, SportsPlus may be reached at 641-753-6636.

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Contact Sara Jordan-Heintz at

641-753-6611 or

sjordan@timesrepublican.com

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