Student Athlete Performance

Nick Lemke
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Sports
  • Updated Weekly

🎙️ Train Smarter. Fuel Better. Get Recruited. The Student Athlete Performance Podcast helps you maximize performance, improve nutrition, and stand out in recruiting. Hosted by Nick Lemke, RD, each episode features elite athletes, coaches, and experts sharing proven strategies on training, recovery, mindset, and college recruiting. Whether you’re an athlete, parent, or coach, get the tools you need to level up in sports and beyond. 📌 New episodes weekly—subscribe now!

  1. How High School Pitchers Are Destroying Their Arms Before They Ever Get Recruited

    6d ago

    How High School Pitchers Are Destroying Their Arms Before They Ever Get Recruited

    Youth baseball players have now surpassed Major League pitchers as the largest group needing Tommy John surgery. The UCL ligament a pitcher throws with doesn't even fully mature until age 26 and kids are blowing it out at 14 and 15. Dr. Kevin McGovern is a physical therapist who has spent over 30 years working with baseball pitchers from high school to the pros. He knows exactly what's causing the arm injury epidemic and what's working to build velocity without breaking down young arms. In this episode, Kevin explains why weighted balls are doing more damage than coaches will admit, why your arm is the last thing you should be training if you want to throw harder, and what two movements almost every pitcher fails that are directly connected to both injury and lost velocity. He also breaks down the difference between drop and drive versus drift mechanics, why endurance is so important to pitching, what to do after you pitch that can either protect your arm or wreck it, and why the advice to "bend your knees" might be the worst cue in baseball. If you pitch at any level and want to throw harder and stay healthy long enough to use it, this episode has answers most coaches never give you. Connect with Dr. Kevin McGovern:IG: https://www.instagram.com/drkmcgovernpt/X:https://x.com/DrKMcGovernPTYT:  ⁨https://www.youtube.com/@DRKMCGOVERNPT Connect with Nick:IG: https://www.instagram.com/nicklemkerd/X:https://x.com/nicklemkerd

    39 min
  2. The Transfer Portal Almost Ended My Football Career. Here's What I Wish I Knew

    Jun 4

    The Transfer Portal Almost Ended My Football Career. Here's What I Wish I Knew

    This offseason was littered with stats and stories of transfer portal athletes who never made it out. Athletes who didn't realize just how touch it would be to find a new home. Andy Gerasenko could have been one of these athletes. He found out his program was dropping from D1 to D3 AFTER he had already committed to them his senior year. Decided to stick it out his freshman year, but entered the portal in January. What followed was five months in the portal, over a thousand schools narrowed down to a handful of real conversations, and a reality check that most athletes only find out about after it's too late. In this episode, Andy gets completely honest about what led him to the portal, what it actually feels like to watch commit announcements roll in on social media while you're still waiting, why he kept looking for another D1 program to compete at, and what finally led him to Lock Haven and why he has zero regrets about where he landed. He also breaks down the three things every athlete needs to understand before they ever enter the portal: the credits that might not transfer, the scholarships that disappear the moment you leave, and why patience is the hardest and most important skill in the whole process. If you play college or high school football and the portal is something you're thinking about (or if you just want to understand what it really looks like from inside the portal) this one is worth your time. Follow Andy: X: https://x.com/Andy_Gerasenko Connect with Nick: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicklemkerd/X: https://x.com/nicklemkerd

    29 min
  3. What College Football Coaches Look for When Recruiting High School Athletes | Head Coach Reveals

    May 28

    What College Football Coaches Look for When Recruiting High School Athletes | Head Coach Reveals

    If coaches have stopped responding to you, there's a reason... and most athletes never find out what it is. Brant McAdams is the head football coach at Pacific Lutheran University. He played college football himself and has spent years making the final call on who gets recruited and who quietly gets moved off the board. In this episode, he shares what that process actually looks like from the inside. We cover what coaches evaluate beyond your highlight film, why follow-through matters more than most athletes think, how to handle showcases without wasting money, what your social media is telling coaches without you knowing it, and the real reason parents contacting coaches on their athlete's behalf can hurt more than help. Brant also breaks down what most families get wrong about D3 schools, including why the sticker price scares people away from some of the best fits and best financial packages out there. If you play high school football and want to play at the next level, this episode has answers most coaches won't say out loud. What are you doing to build relationships with potential colleges? Connect with Brant:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachbrantmcadams/X: https://x.com/BrantMcAdams Connect with Nick:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicklemkerd/X: https://x.com/nicklemkerd

    36 min
  4. Why You Can't Hit in Games But Look Great in the Cage | Baseball Hitting Coach

    May 21

    Why You Can't Hit in Games But Look Great in the Cage | Baseball Hitting Coach

    If you're putting in the reps and still not seeing results in games, the problem probably isn't your swing. Rob Crews is the founder of Complete Game and creator of the See Think Move method. He's worked with college programs like UCLA, Florida, and LSU and consulted with MLB organizations including the Padres and Mariners. His take: most hitters are training the wrong thing entirely. In this episode, Rob breaks down why everything before the swing determines whether it's a good one, what's actually causing your slumps and the three things every hitter needs to start doing right now to hit the ball harder more consistently. We also get into why travel ball itself isn't the problem and what parents can do to raise better athletes. If you play baseball or softball and you want to hit better in games (not just in the cage) this one is for you. What's one action you can take to be a better hitter? Connect with Rob: Website: https://www.complete.game/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/completegame/X: https://x.com/CompleteGame Connect with Nick: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicklemkerd/X: https://x.com/nicklemkerd

    28 min
  5. What to Say to Your Athlete After a Bad Game | Chad Hermansen Mental Performance Coach

    May 14

    What to Say to Your Athlete After a Bad Game | Chad Hermansen Mental Performance Coach

    Your athlete just had a rough game. They're quiet. You want to help, so you start talking. And that might be the exact moment the damage happens. In this episode, I sat down with Chad Hermansen, first round draft pick, former big leaguer, former MLB scout, and now mental performance coach to talk about what parents are doing after games, in the stands, and at home that is quietly destroying their athlete's confidence and straining their relationship. Chad breaks down why athletes already know what they did wrong, why your frustration in the car ride home is your problem to manage first, and what it actually looks like to be the parent your athlete needs, not the one they dread coming home to. We also get into his self-coaching model from his book The Parent Edge, how to repair a relationship that's already been strained by years of pressure, and the one question you should ask yourself before you ever say anything after a bad game. If you love your athlete and just want to give them what they need to succeed, this one is worth the listen. How do you respond when your athlete gets in the car after a game? Get Chad's book The Parent Edge: https://a.co/d/00o9mzSQ Follow Chad on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chadhermansen/ Follow Chad on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mentaledgecoachchad Connect with Nick: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicklemkerd/Twitter/X: https://x.com/nicklemkerd

    36 min
  6. How to Get Noticed by MLB Scouts in High School | Inside the Scouting Process with a Cubs Scout

    May 7

    How to Get Noticed by MLB Scouts in High School | Inside the Scouting Process with a Cubs Scout

    Most high school baseball players have no idea what MLB scouts are actually looking for, and you're likely focusing on the wrong stuff. In this episode, I sat down with Nate Metzger, a scout for the Chicago Cubs and former college coach, to pull back the curtain on the scouting and recruiting process. We talk about what tools scouts prioritize, how size really factors in, and what separates the guys who get drafted from the ones who get passed over. Nate also breaks down why the jump from high school to college is harder than college to pro ball and what the athletes who make it to the big leagues all have in common, beyond just talent. If you play high school baseball and want to understand what scouts are watching for, how to get on their radar, and what mindset it takes to compete at the next level, this one is for you. Want to reach out to Nate directly with questions about the process? Email him at nmetzger@cubs.com Connect with Nick: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicklemkerd/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/nicklemkerd

    33 min
  7. What Changes After You Commit D1 in Baseball

    Apr 30

    What Changes After You Commit D1 in Baseball

    What changes after you commit D1? In this episode, Nick talks with Carter Macanas, an Arizona State baseball commit, about what it actually takes to keep developing after an early commitment. Carter committed to ASU as a freshman, played at national events like Jupiter, and was named a PG All-Tournament hitter. But after committing, he had to learn that the work does not stop once the offer comes. Since they chatted, Carter has put on 15 pounds of muscle to better perform at the next level and has since changed his college commitment, while still remaining hungry to get better every day. They talk about staying motivated after commitment, building better nutrition habits, preparing for games, gaining weight the right way, improving energy, hydration, recovery, and the mindset needed to keep climbing. This episode is for high school baseball players who want to play college baseball and understand what separates serious athletes from athletes who get comfortable.What habit do you need to lock in 2026? Follow CarterInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/carter_macanas_808/ Follow NickInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicklemkerdX: https://twitter.com/nicklemkerd

    25 min
  8. Why Most Athletes Struggle With Confidence (And How to Fix It)

    Apr 23

    Why Most Athletes Struggle With Confidence (And How to Fix It)

    Confidence is something every athlete struggles with at some point. But most athletes misunderstand where confidence actually comes from. In this episode, Nick sits down with Adalyne Fettig to talk about what it takes to build real confidence through development, consistency, and trusting the process. This conversation is especially helpful for athletes who feel stuck, unsure, or behind in their progress.Are you lacking confidence, or just expecting results too quickly? Follow Adalyne: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adalynefettigX: https://x.com/adalynefettigWebsite: https://www.adalynefettig.com/ Follow Nick: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicklemkerdX: https://twitter.com/nicklemkerd

    36 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

🎙️ Train Smarter. Fuel Better. Get Recruited. The Student Athlete Performance Podcast helps you maximize performance, improve nutrition, and stand out in recruiting. Hosted by Nick Lemke, RD, each episode features elite athletes, coaches, and experts sharing proven strategies on training, recovery, mindset, and college recruiting. Whether you’re an athlete, parent, or coach, get the tools you need to level up in sports and beyond. 📌 New episodes weekly—subscribe now!

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