About

McKenna's Gym is a unique performance based gym.  We provide top tier instruction in Weightlifting, Sports Performance, General Fitness, and other Strength Sports in a traditional setting.

Mike McKenna is a USAW National Level Coach with over 30 years of coaching experience in Weightlifting, Strength and Conditioning, Fitness, and other sports, notably Track and Field and Wrestling. Mike is also a USA Weightlifting Coaching Instructor who has certified over 2,000 Level 1 and Level 2 USA Weightlifting coaches.

Mike began coaching Weightlifting in 1993 after taking the USWF Level 1 Coaching Class while a Junior at the University of Delaware, where he competed on the Track and Field Team. A member of three conference championship teams, Mike received his Bachelor’s Degree in English and History, with a concentration in English Education and a minor in Linguistics. In competition, Mike set Delaware State Records in the 108 and 108+ Categories, as well as the 105+ Category en route to a career that saw Mike win the bronze medal at the 2003 American Open (Now American Open Final) and the Gold Medal at the 2010 National Masters Championship.  

As a Weightlifting Coach, Mike has coached dozens of lifters to National level Meets, including Youth Nationals, Masters Nationals, University Nationals, Junior Nationals, and Senior Nationals. Three of Mike’s lifters have made International teams, Brittany Harris in 2007 (Youth National), D, Hudes in 2017 (University World), and Maddie Storms in 2022 (Ibero-American).  Furthermore, Mike’s lifters have won over 150 medals at USAW National competitions at every age level from Youth to Masters, highlighted by D. Hudes winning the 2016 American Open (now American Open Final), Katie Montague winning the 2017 University Nationals and Under 28 National title, Willie Day wining the 2020 American Open Final, and D. Irrizarry winning the 2023 Junior National championship. Mike has also coached a 2022 Irish National Weightlifting Champion Maeve Willis.

Mike’s strength coaching experience began in 1996 when he started to teach High School; he coached many sports and was the strength coach for all of his teams.  He currently owns and operates McKenna’s Gym in Highland Park, NJ where he offers Sports Performance, Weightlifting, and General Fitness instruction.  His clients include two Olympic trials swimmers, a Marathon Olympic Trials participant, a member of the Schoolgirl National Wrestling team, and an international level competitor in Irish Dance as well as athletes from basketball, football, lacrosse, wrestling, and other sports at the High School, Collegiate, and post-collegiate levels. Mike’s athletes have earned local, regional, state, and national recognition in their respective sports.

Mike has also coached sports at the high school level in Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, producing All -Star or All-State performers in Track and Field, Wrestling, and Girls Lacrosse.  

Equipment

• seven Platforms

• Rogue Monster Light Racks

• Eleiko, WerkSan, and York Elite Barbells & Bumper Plates

• roge and Sorinex Adjustbale Benches

• Rogue Functional Trainer

• Sorinex GHD

• Leg Extension/ Leg Curl Combo

• 5-100 Pound Dumbbells

• Reverse Hyper

• Texas Power Bars

• Chains and Bands

• Kettlebells

• Airdyne Octane Exercise Bike