PERFORMANCE TRAINING
A 4,200 square foot performance training area is located adjacent to the hardwood courts on Impact’s main level. This space features free weights, dumbbells, kettlebells, squat/bench racks, tires, cable machines, a turf training area, and a number of other workout machines designed to develop athletes of all levels.

Culture
Setting the standard of the pursuit of excellence, both as athletes and human beings. Understanding that we have the privilege of getting better each day that we step into the weight room, and that we should never take that opportunity for granted. Impact Performance is a welcoming environment, and thrives off of positive energy and bringing intensity to each training session. We encourage all athletes to show their personality and be their authentic selves in their pursuit of excellence.
Consistency
Being 1% better each day is how we reach our goals. Success isn’t linear, and there will be obstacles to reach those goals. However, if we focus on each training session and being better than the day before, there are no limits on what we can achieve. It is our job to show athletes that process of improvement and help guide them in their road to success. Being consistently very good is better than being sometimes great.
Persistence
Challenges come in all shapes and sizes throughout life. Impact Performance strives to instill a never give up attitude in everybody that walks through its doors. The weight room is not just character revealing, but should also be character building. By showing athletes how to overcome adversity in training, they will build skills for overcoming adversity in their sport and in life.
Accountability
When the bar is raised to a certain standard, we need to hold each other responsible to maintain that same standard in order to be elite. This is a life skill that will take them far as they advance into their athletic career and in their lives outside of athletics. Staying attentive to the little details, attacking each day with great enthusiasm, and lifting others up when they are down.
Intent
Everything we do when we train will always have a reason behind it, while being completed with great effort and intent. There will be no going through the motions. At Impact Performance, we are detail oriented. Having worked with hundreds of elite level athletes, we understand the need for doing the little things right with great focus and consideration.
1. Ground Based and Multi-Joint Movements
The majority of sports are played with the athletes’ feet on the ground and multiple joints being used. By using these sport-specific type of movements, we prepare athletes for an in-competition stimulus.
2. Training In All Three Planes of Movement
Teaching athletes how to move efficiently in each plane of movement (Sagittal, Frontal, Transverse) is critical to athletic performance because all movement is three dimensional. Being able to produce and resist forces plane to plane will increase the athleticism of the athlete.
3. Progressive Overload and the SAID Principle
To produce successful long-term athletic development, the use of progressive overload is crucial. Applying stress in a carefully planned approach that the athlete is not adapted to. This includes strategic changes in load, volume, tempo, frequency, and the difficulty of the movement.
4. Explosiveness and Force Development
Sports demand highly skilled, explosive, and quick movements. By stressing jump training and power development, we improve the athlete’s ability to rapidly produce force in a short amount of time.
5. Energy System Development
Every sport has specific energy system demands. That is why we train all three energy systems to build a strong base then look at the specific sport, position, and energy system that needs to be targeted the most frequently. The three energy systems trained are: ATP-PCR (up to 15 seconds of activity), Glycolytic (15 seconds to 2 minutes of activity), and Oxidative (activity longer than 2 minutes).
- Strength
- Power
- Metabolic Conditioning
- Core Strength
- Flexibility/Mobility
- Proprioception and Body Awareness
- Nutrition
- Mental Toughness
The usage of Olympic weightlifting and its variations, powerlifting, ground based multi-joint movements, plyometric training and free weight exercises to maximize athletic performance while also reducing risk of injury.
The thoughtful consideration to needs analysis and evaluation of the athlete and sport will always come first, in order to create the most sport-specific type of adaptation throughout their time training at Impact. The combination of carefully planned out exercise progressions, detailed coaching, and scientifically proven progressive overload will lead to not only excellence in the weight room, but also in their respective sport.

Focus on Movement, Not Maxes
Attention to proper lifting technique is the first priority when athletes begin training. The importance of efficient movement patterns and motor control is vital to the long term athletic development of each individual athlete.Injury Prevention
The weight room should be used as a tool for athletes to improve performance and confidence in their respective sport. Before they begin training at Impact, athletes will be evaluated by our team to identify specific areas of weakness that could be more susceptible to injury. Also being identified are bilateral asymmetries and bilateral deficits. Addressing these deficiencies early on in their training will help develop better movement habits which will reduce likelihood of injury.

Relationship Building
Nobody cares how much we know, until they know how much we care. Building relationships and showing that care to our athletes is at the forefront of our approach. When you train at Impact, you are considered a part of our performance family.Science Based Training and Periodization
The training and programming at Impact is all based on scientifically supported methods and adapted to the needs of each athlete and the demands of their respective sport.MISSION STATEMENT
Using a holistic approach, Impact Performance strives to enhance athletes of all ages both physically and mentally while helping them reach their full potential in their athletic careers and as people.
THOMAS SMALLEY BIO
Thomas Smalley, MS, CSCS was named Head Strength & Conditioning coach at Impact Athletic Center in Halfmoon, NY in September 2021.
Smalley comes from Division I Wagner College in Staten Island, NY. During his time as a Graduate Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach, Smalley was responsible for the program development and implementation of the Baseball, and Swim & Dive Teams, while also assisting with the Football team. Smalley also led sports nutrition for the performance department by providing educational resources for athletes and individual nutrition consultation.

Before Wagner, Smalley spent time at Division II Saint Anselm as an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach. At Saint Anselm. he was responsible for training program development and implementation of the Baseball, Women’s Soccer, and Women’s Tennis teams.

Smalley embarked on a Strength & Conditioning Graduate Fellowship to Tufts University from August 2020 to February 2021. At Tufts, Thomas was responsible for supervising training sessions of ten Division III NESCAC varsity teams, designed and implemented comprehensive training programs for several Tufts varsity teams, and tested athletes to monitor improvements, set goals, and test the validity of the programs.
Thomas began his career as an undergraduate intern in the sports performance department at Division I Siena College. During that time, Smalley worked with the MAAC Champion Men’s Basketball team along with overseeing program design and implementation for the Women’s Water Polo team.
A graduate of Siena College in Loudonville, NY, Smalley Received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2020. He received his Masters of Science in Exercise and Sports Science with a concentration in Strength and Conditioning from Merrimack College in North Andover, MA. Smalley is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. He holds his USAW Level 1 Weightlifting Coaching certification along with a Level 1 Coaching certification from Precision Nutrition.
Since October 2020, Thomas has been a lead advocate of the International OCD Foundation which allows him to lead “Athletes and Mental Health” interest projects to increase awareness of OCD and other mental health disorders for athletes of all ages.

Brenna Buscher BIO
Brenna Buscher was named Fitness Coordinator at Impact Athletic Center in Halfmoon, NY in January 2023.
Brenna is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer, Level 2 Certified Kettlebell Instructor, Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist, Certified Aerial Silks Instructor, and has been practicing boxing since 2011. She is a registered USA Boxing Athlete, has completed road and trail half marathons, a triathlon, and ran her first full marathon in 2022. Brenna’s passion for fitness was sparked by boxing as a way to relieve stress, achieve a total body workout, and have fun. In order to reach her goals, Brenna discovered that she needed to add strength training to take her training and fitness to the next level.


This led her to an interest in creating total body strength workouts. Through her own fitness journey, she discovered that she had a passion for helping others learn to box and strength train to improve their overall health and fitness levels. Boxing and fitness has allowed Brenna to help clients gain confidence, achieve their fitness goals, improve their boxing technique, and exercise form. Having been taught boxing by highly trained boxing coaches, she strives to teach proper technique and form. Her goal is to share the enjoyment, knowledge, and experience she has gained from boxing and fitness with clients.
Brenna is passionate about fitness and education. She is constantly striving to improve and further educate herself in order to be the best possible source for clients. In 2020 she received her Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist Certification to help postpartum women in their fitness journey. To further her education, in 2021 she completed The Empowered Performance Mentorship Program. The program gave her an even deeper understanding of biomechanics, compensation patterns, movement patterns, exercise selection, and more. Brenna designs creative workouts that may combine calisthenics, kettlebells, boxing, and strength training that keep clients engaged and inspired. The workouts are catered towards an individual’s physical abilities, needs, and goals – whether they are new to fitness or those seeking a challenging workout. She has experience working with a diverse range of clients and has trained clients from 5–94 years old.
Teaching Schedule:
Adult Group Training: Mondays: 10:15am, 6pm & 7pm. Tuesdays: 8am, 10:15am. Wednesdays: 8am, 10:15am & 6pm. Thursdays: 8am, 10:15am. Fridays: 10:15am,12pm

Ian Engel BIO
Ian has a Bachelor’s in Exercise Science, is a 200 HR RYT certified yoga instructor, is a Nationally Qualified Strongman Competitor, and is a BJJ practitioner. Ian believes that movement is your self expression. His training motto is “Train to express yourself to be the version of you, you wish to be”.
Teaching Schedule:
Yoga Foundations: Mondays and Wednesdays at 9:30am.
Adult Small Group Training: Mondays 8am.

Sheryl Campbell BIO
Sheryl is a 1200 hour certified yoga instructor and former Co-Owner and Founder of Baptiste Power Yoga Capital District, which closed in September 2021 due to the pandemic. She has facilitated numerous wellness programs, workshops, and trainings. Sheryl’s mission is to inspire others to be the best version of themselves through sharing yoga, coaching, and mentoring.
She has completed numerous yoga teacher trainings, as well kids yoga teacher trainings, and mentorship programs. Sheryl is a mother to two college students, and works in the corporate field by day for financial consultants. In her downtime, she enjoys cycling, hiking, skiing, traveling, and the great outdoors.
Teaching Schedule:
Power Yoga: Wednesdays at 5:45pm

Kara Carter BIO
Kara is a Certified Group Fitness Instructor through the Athletics and Fitness Association of America. She has been a fitness instructor for 6 years but her true passion was in Dance. Kara started dancing at the age of 2 1/2 which paved the way for her to perform for Royal Caribbean Cruise lines for 6 contracts. This then led Kara to find her true calling in the fitness industry as a kickboxing and strength coach.
With Kara’s outgoing personality, she shows you that you can have fun while working out! As a mom of two, Kara understands that life can get busy. Taking care of yourself physically and mentally is one of the best things you can do for yourself, especially as a parent.
She is comfortable providing modifications for all fitness levels including pre/postnatal fitness and prides herself in making everyone feel comfortable in her classes no matter their fitness ability.
Teaching Schedule:
Kickboxing Strength Fusion: Tuesdays and Thursdays 6am.

tiffany morgan BIO
Tiffany has been working in the fitness industry for over 30 years. She has a Bachelors of Science in Exercise Physiology and is nationally certified in Bootcamp, HIIT, step aerobics, metabolic conditioning, water aerobics, floor aerobics, kickboxing, body sculpting, spinning, and run coaching. Tiffany has run 30 marathons, and over 100 half marathons. She currently works at the College of Saint Rose (21 years) PE department teaching health/wellness and physical fitness. A highlight in her career was training one of the winners of the Biggest Loser competition, Tumi Oguntala.
Teaching Schedule:
Total Body Sculpt: Mondays and Wednesdays 10am.
Adult Small Group Training: Tuesdays and Thursdays 6pm and 7pm, Saturdays 8am and 9am.

zach smith BIO
Zach Smith has been working as a personal trainer and group trainer for 19 years. He has expertise in boxing and training has experience teaching at several boxing gyms and fitness studios. Zach was a professional boxer retiring in 2016 with a 6(1KO)-3 record. He obtained a NASM certification as a personal trainer in October 2022 and his nutrition coaching certification in 2023.
Teaching Schedule:
Adult Small Group Training: Tuesdays and Thursdays 6pm and 7pm, Saturdays 8am and 9am.

Marissa Brennan BIO
Marissa Brennan is a Pennsylvania native who grew up dancing and twirling baton competitively for the past 20+ years. She has performed at several international championship competitions and has won many team, duet, and solo awards and titles as a competitive twirler. Marissa continues to share her passion of dance, twirling, and performing through any opportunities she has to coach, instruct, and design artistic shows. Marissa finds joy seeing other experience and feel empowered by the way we can move our bodies to become works of art.
