Whatever your athletic endeavors, Weekend Warrior Sports & Rehab Supplies should be on your fitness list "keeping you ready for battle."

"We are a sports medicine and physical therapy supply store. We also carry a lot of fitness products. We're generally a retailer; however, we do direct sales to professional offices. We are beginning this year with some boot camps and physical fitness classes. I was in medical sales. What spurred this was that a lot of facilities don't have the means to sell items to their patients. I started the store and it has evolved. We work with pretty much all of the hospitals in the area, chiropractors and physical therapists where we offer free delivery and/or shipping to their patients that need supplies for any number of conditions. We are starting fitness classes on Saturday, June 23, 2012, at 9:30 a.m. and will have them on Mondays and Wednesdays at 7 p.m.," explained owner Corey Lowery. A North Central High School graduate, he studied business management at Marian College. Many local athletes have become customers.

Corey Thompson is owner of the Indiana Nighthawks, a local semi-pro football team that he organized and also a client. "It was an idea I put together. My head coach is ex-NFL player Ray Donaldson. I talked to him about being head coach and consulted with him and some players who are from the Indianapolis Tornadoes, a local football team. I sat down and tried to map it out, but some of my players helped me. I created a board of directors who helped me and we got backing from my players and coaches. We're still in the infant stages. The Nighthawk logo was created by a former teammate. It's kind of a network where you meet somebody and they know somebody who can help. Carl Martin (Indiana Nighthawks running back) led me to meet Corey. The hardest thing is recruiting players. A lot of work is involved in building rapport and relations with the community. We're going to be successful. I credit that to the talent of the players. I'm not only the owner, but also the offensive coordinator," he said. A native of Muncie, Thompson played alto saxophone in elementary school and trombone in the Muncie Central High School marching band.

His interest in athletics has evolved from playing to coaching. "I've always enjoyed sports. A friend asked me to coach semi-pro football. I didn't play organized football until I was 25 years old. I played two years of semi-pro football with the Madison County Chiefs in Anderson. One of my players, Carson Johnson, does the artwork for the Nighthawks posters. He has an extensive background in arena and semi-pro football and won a national championship with the Albany (New York) Metro Maulers. The Nighthawks nickname was formed from a brainstorming session," Thompson said.

Their season kicks off in mid-summer. "We play our games at Park Tudor High School at 7 p.m. on Saturday evenings starting July 14, 2012. Our league is the Mid States Football League (MSFL) based out of Chicago. This year, we have an eight game regular season schedule with 18 teams, primarily in Chicago, southern Wisconsin and two Indiana teams, one in Indianapolis and the other in Fort Wayne," he described.

Martin described his athletic background: "I was a running back and defensive back on the varsity football team at Lew Wallace High School in Gary and was captain of the football and track teams. I walked on to Purdue University's football and track team in 1998 and 1999 and stayed through spring football, but chose to focus on education and family. From there, I played for the Lafayette Lions semi-pro football team from 2001 to 2006 as a running back where I lead the league in touchdowns and rushing yards," he said.

He returned to the gridiron when "I was looking for a team that was an upstart and had good management. I found the Nighthawks on-line and found out that one of my fraternity brothers, Jermaine Fears, is a player and coach. I'm one of the players who is playing for the passion of the game and to keep in shape," Martin added.

The Nighthawks roster is still open for aspiring players, who can access their Facebook page (www.facebook.com/indiana.nighthawks) for information. Their website, www.indiananighthawks.org is under construction.

Future promotions at Weekend Warrior are being planned as Lowery utilizes his marketing skills from his customer relations background. "We will start a radio spot in the second week of June where we have a one-year anniversary promotion and will offer new products and special sales. Stop by for details," he mentioned. Located at 1430 Broad Ripple Avenue, they are open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. More information is available by calling 252-5910 or at their website, www.weekendwarriormedical.com.

Lowery's making friends and building relationships has proven to be a successful game plan in Weekend Warrior's rookie season since opening April 11, 2011. "We reached out to the schools and have been able to work with student athletes whom we offer a 15 percent discount. This community is an athletic community with rugby and soccer players, baseball, basketball and football players and some runners. Being in the area, we have the opportunity to work with Corey (Thompson) because they are playing their home games at Park Tudor. His teammates come in the store and buy products. We work with a lot of local athletic personal trainers who send their clients in to buy various fitness items. We try to form partnerships with other local business to grow our businesses together," he noted.

Describing their diverse client base, Lowery said, "Our customers range anywhere from 12 years old to seniors. We sold a rollator to a 90-year old woman last summer. We have a lot of senior products, like reachers and hip and knee replacement kits. We carry magnifying glasses in addition to Handybars and Metro Car handles (that assist people getting out of their car)." Traumeel (www.traumeel.us) sells topical analgesics like ointments, gels and tablets to treat arthritis, muscle or joint pain, sports injuries or bruising.

Choosing the store's location was part of Lowery's marketing strategy: "It was a matter of chance. I was looking for a place for some of our customers from nursing homes and doctors offices to pick up things," he mentioned

As the seasons change, certain items become best sellers. "The foot products are really popular as the summer months arrive. Orthopedic items and fitness products are very popular. We are the largest Kinesiology taping and product supplier in the area. We provide our clients with the best customer service possible and their therapists determine the best product for them. We have a fitting area for orthopedic bracing and orthotic inserts for customers to try on to determine the best products for their needs," he said.

A growing network has emerged between Lowery's business, local athletes and team owners and coaches like Thompson. Weekend Warrior's sponsorship goal provides funding for athletes like Martin to pursue his passion of playing football. Their objective is to "create partnerships with local athletic departments and student athletes to provide product and equipment to prevent and treat injury and improve performance."

Weekend Warrior Sports & Rehab Supplies can get you back on the field in the game of life.