TIMOTHY MEROLILLO
Owner and Lead Trainer
Tim Merolillo is a highly dedicated trainer who has been passionate about fitness from a young age. His journey began with high school sports training and continued through college-level sports training. These programs instilled in Tim a drive for excellence and a determination to always be ready for the next step.
Throughout his career, Tim has earned many extensive accolades and accomplishments, including a master’s degree in Exercise Physiology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Management from Concord University, and a Titleist Performance Institute – TPI Certification. He is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and holds a First aid/AED certification.
In addition to his certifications, Tim has also been recognized for his athletic abilities. He was an All-region baseball performer at Concord University and the WPIAL player of the year in 2005 for baseball in the North Allegheny School District.
As the owner and lead coach of Elite Custom Fitness in Sewickley, PA, Tim takes pride in his extensive knowledge and understanding of training and building strength. He is committed to providing the best possible experience for his clients and helping them achieve their fitness goals.
In his free time, Tim enjoys playing golf and hanging with his family. He resides locally and is thrilled to continue offering top-notch training services to the community through Elite Custom Fitness. With the recent move into a new facility, he is excited to use the new space to further enhance the client experience and reach even more people who are dedicated to achieving their fitness goals.
KYLE FICKLIN
STRENGTH COACH
Fitness became an interest for Kyle when his father taught him the basics of exercising in sixth grade. Over the years, he trained under classic powerlifting programs, sports performance, speed, and agility, and has now progressed through the conjugate system.
Through fitness, training, and sports, Kyle learned how to respond to adversity, approach things head-on, and enjoy the process of reaching an end goal. His philosophy when it comes to training and coaching clients is to stay professional, treat all clients with the utmost respect, and bring energy because you never know what happened during their day before they came in to train.
Kyle received his Fitness Training Certification (CFT) in 2015 and became a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) in 2022 from ISSA. He grew up on the south side of Chicago and started off with T-ball, bowling, then went to football, track, and wrestling in sixth grade through high school, played rugby in college, and amateur football from 2014-2019. He holds a B.S. (Double Major) in Physical Education and Sport/Exercise Science Track – Athletic Coaching and a Minor in Sports Management.
To stay up-to-date with the latest developments and trends in the fitness industry, Kyle not only maintains the 20 semi-annual CEUs needed to keep his certifications current but also stays up-to-date on new studies and nuances that come into the industry. His advice for clients is to stay patient, positive, look at everything as a learning experience, and be comfortable being uncomfortable. Kyle is excited to join the Elite Custom Fitness team and bring his years of experience and training methodologies to help clients achieve their fitness goals.
JEREMY MICHAEL
STRENGTH COACH
Jeremy Michael was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he developed a passion for sports at a young age. He excelled in football, basketball, and track, earning three sport letterman distinctions in high school. Jeremy’s impressive athletic achievements earned him a football scholarship to California State University, Chico (D-1AA) where he played linebacker.
During his time at Chico, Jeremy received All Conference football honors (NCAC) for three years in a row and earned a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Physiology. His love for sports and fitness led him to pursue a career as a collegiate strength coach, where he worked at California State University, Fullerton in 1997. However, Jeremy soon realized that his true calling was in the private sector.
With 25 years of experience and a CSCS certification, Jeremy has gained a wealth of knowledge from training with Eastern European Olympic lifters to North American sprint coaches. He has developed a unique and effective training methodology that can be applied to any fitness goal. His dedication to his clients and passion for fitness made him a sought-after personal trainer in Southern California.
Currently, Jeremy resides in the Pittsburgh area and has recently joined the team at Elite Custom Fitness. He is excited to bring his expertise and passion for fitness to the East Coast and help clients achieve their fitness goals.
