Early Career Growth: Tyler Blowe's Journey from Cross-Country Runner to Strength & Conditioning Intern
Blowe credits his mother’s experience in cross-country as the inspiration that motivated him to start running.
Tyler Blowe, a junior Exercise Science major is a member of the cross-country team at the University of South Carolina Aiken (USCA). Running has been a part of his life since his mother's cross-country experience inspired him to give it a try.
Early in his career, Blowe made a choice to switch majors after realizing he wanted to pursue a field he truly enjoys, rather than just one focused on making money.
Encouraged by his former Strength Coach, he decided to dive into the Exercise Science field. Taking the initiative and reaching out to USCA’s Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Ryan Burnham, he was able to get the Strength and Conditioning Coach Intern position in the University’s Athletic Department.
Blowe talked about the scope of activities that are a part of his internship, “Leading warmups and small groups, interacting with athletes, and answering their questions.”
Blowe’s eagerness to learn led him to ask numerous questions, allowing him to gain valuable insight and hands-on knowledge from his mentor.
Normally, his day starts as early as 5:45 a.m. in the weight room, as that’s when some athletes are available to train. The long days and packed schedules have played a key role in helping him build discipline and refine his time management skills.
Tyler appreciates the opportunities this position provides for networking and learning from others in the field. Gaining hands-on experience allows him to apply his prior knowledge and contribute significantly to his growth. He mentioned that he would not truly know if he was committed to this career path without experiencing it firsthand through this internship.
When asked about his future, Blowe said, “I’d like to work for a football program on either the collegiate or professional level, after completing my bachelor’s and master’s degrees as well as some other special certificates”. Realizing the amount of work that goes into strength and conditioning, Blowe believes having an internship is the best first step for future success in the field.
For more information, contact USCA Marketing & Communication at news@usca.edu.