Personal Trainers

Michaela Piendel, CPT

Michaela calls Erie, Pennsylvania home. She is a junior Exercise Physiology major minoring in Sport and Exercise Psychology. At age six, Michaela was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. It has always been important for her and her family to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Nutrition and fitness have helped Michaela maintain this lifestyle, and through her studies atWVU, her knowledge continues to grow. Throughout high school, Michaela participated in basketball for her school team and travel teams. Within these experiences, she became more interested in improving her athletic ability. Michaela began to do her own research and found a love for exercise and proper nutrition. She earned her personal training certification through NETA in January of 2016 and now specifically strives to help individuals learn proper lifting techniques and feel confident in the weight room, but more importantly in their own skin.

Contact Michaela at mapiendel@mix.wvu.edu

Sam Plantz, CPT

Sam is a Junior nursing student from Charleston, W.V. He first attended Concord University where he played a semester of football as starting long snapper before deciding to hang up his helmet and cleats. After transferring to WVU, his love for the medical field combined with his enjoyment of interacting with people drove him into nursing.

Sam’s passion for working out began in high school with summer lifting to grow size and strength. Once his football career ended, fitness became his outlet to fuel his competitive nature. Sam earned his Personal Training Certification in July 2016 through the National Exercise Trainers Association (NETA). His philosophy is based around living a healthier lifestyle. Sam writes workout programs specific to his client’s goals. Seeing his clients’ progress and sharing his passion for fitness is what drives his love for personal training.

“My hope is for you to be the best YOU that YOU can be. My goal is to aid in your success.”

Adam Shuldman, CPT

Adam is a senior working on a Multidisciplinary Studies degree. Sports and physical activity was a big part of Adam’s upbringing. He was involved in everything from soccer and cross-country in middle school to football and varsity baseball in high school. His passion for sports inspired him to want to learn more about training, nutrition, and overall fitness when he came to college; to truly learn how to become the biggest, fastest, and strongest version of himself.

His overall goal is to show each and every one of his clients that they can achieve any goal they set for themselves and through time and persistence, anything is possible. “No man has the right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training. It is a shame for a man to grow old without ever seeing the true beauty and strength of which his or her body is capable of.”

Contact Adam at: akshuldman@mix.wvu.edu 

Josh Vickery, CPT

Josh is originally from Augusta, WV. He grew up playing his two favorite sports, tennis and soccer. He pursued a degree at WVU because of his fascination of the human body and obtained a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Physiology. While working towards his degree, he discovered his passion for the Spanish language and the culture and also completed a degree in Spanish. Josh intends to continue his education in Physical Therapy school in the near future.

Josh’s passion for human physiology, devotion toward exercise, nutrition, and the lifestyle as a whole has motivated him to share the knowledge he obtained through school with others in hopes of helping them improve strength, health, and enjoyment in fitness.

Contact Josh at: jvick66@gmail.com

Nick Oxendale, CrossFit LVL 1

Nick was born in Kissimmee, Florida, but has lived most of his life in West Virginia. He is a student in Landscape Architecture curriculum. Upon graduation, he intends to attend graduate school in architecture.

Since his earliest years he has participated in a variety of sports, but in recent years his focus has been on the essential ingredient for all athletic endeavors... fitness! Nick has earned a Crossfit Level I trainer certificate. He believes that a mixture of cardio and weightlifting is a perfect combination to functional fitness, along with an improvement in wellness and spirit.

Developing and maintaining a sensible regimen of healthy living when younger is essential if one is to minimize age related physical infirmities. Physical training can serve as a buffer to postpone or avoid many of the infirmities of old age.

“My worst nightmare is the thought of being too unhealthy as an older adult to do the things I love with my friends and family. I want to maintain a healthy lifestyle until the end.”

Contact Nick at: njoxendale@mix.wvu.edu