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cityviewmag.com 73
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
ill Bartholomew was a full-
back for the University of
Tennessee Volunteers from
1998 through 2001 and a member of
the 1998 National Championship
team. Shortly after leaving the uni-
versity, Bartholomew, a free agent at
the time, sustained a career-ending
knee injury during training camp
with the Denver Broncos. Deter-
mined to remain a part of the athletic
world, he founded D1 Sports Training
in a small warehouse outside Nash-
ville in 2002.
’ÄúWhen he was doing his rehab, he
was sitting there thinking, ’ÄòWouldn’Äôt
it be great if I could go to a place that
not only would have rehabilitation
services, but would also have sports
training services or a gym?’Äô’Äù says Ja-
son Studwell, the facility coordinator
for D1’Äôs Knoxville location, which first
opened in 2005.
Today, the small warehouse in
Nashville has grown into a national
company withmore than 20 facilities
nationwide, stretching from Pitts-
burgh to Colorado Springs. True to
Bartholomew’Äôs vision, D1 now spe-
cializes in serving as a one-stop shop
for sports therapy, strength training,
and recreation.
’ÄúLet’Äôs say I tear my knee up, and
I have to come in for rehab,’Äù says
Studwell.’ÄúWell, not only can I rehab
my knee, but I can also work out for
whatever particular sport that I’Äôm go-
ing to play.’Äù
D1’Äôs Knoxville branch’Äîco-owned
by Broncos quarterback and former
Vol PeytonManning’Äîmoved from its
Lovell Road location to a 33,000 square
foot facility on Hardin Valley Road in
2010. D1 offers programs for all ages.
Classes are offered for children as
young as 7 years old, and adults have
access to strength classes for muscle
training and’Äúboot camps’Äù for general
fitness. D1 also offers specialty classes
such as training in soccer goalkeeping
and baseball fieldwork.
One of these classes is Mixed Mar-
tial Arts, led by instructor Ben Har-
rison. Harrison had anMMA school in
Lenoir City when D1 hired him to lead
their own program. The martial art
Harrison teaches, Brazilian jiu-jitsu,
is a popular self-defense tool as well
as what professional fighters use in
MMA leagues, and its many uses are
mirrored in the variety of students
Harrison teaches at D1. Housewives
and college students train alongside
competitive fighters.
’ÄúWhen people come to class, 99
percent are here for something other
than actual competition,’Äù says Har-
rison.’ÄúWhatever their goals are, we’Äôll
cater to that. Our deal is that every-
one’Äôs going to have a different goal.
D1 Sports Training
W
Location:
10258 HardinValley Road
Founder:
Will Bartholomew
Estimated annual revenue
(local):
More than $500,000
Website:
Slogan:
’ÄúThe Place for theAthlete’Äù
Corporate headquarters:
Nashville, Tennessee