BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

POTSDAM -- Stone and Steel Gym has signed on to sponsor Olympic hopeful Seth Coates in his quest to advance through the USA Luge National Team.

Coates is the first sponsored athlete of the downtown Potsdam gym, which first opened to great fanfare in July 2024.

Owner Tim Vollmer said he was proud to support Coates' dreams in luge.

"Seth is already a talented slider who has multiple podiums in international competition. We understand that having a facility that’s open when you have the time to workout can be the difference between training or not, so we’re happy to provide Seth with the training facility he needs to continue pursuing competition at the highest level of his sport," Vollmer said.

The 16-year-old Potsdam native is now training at Stone and Steel with his personal trainer Jeremy LaClaire.

Coates said he is enthusiastic about the opportunity to train at "the best facility in the North Country" as he chases Olympic glory.

Coates' is currently on the USA Luge Junior National Team and will be competing in the Junior World Cup this season, the premier division for juniors that has launched a number of athletes' careers including Chris Mazder and Erin Hamlin in recent years.

Both have multiple Olympic medals to their credit.

oates' first Junior World Cup race of the upcoming season will be December 16th in Winterberg, Germany.

For more information about Stone and Steel Gym and its sponsorship initiatives, please visit StoneandSteelGym.com or contact Tim Vollmer at info@stoneandsteelgym.com.

Stone and Steel Gym is Potsdam's only 24/7 fitness facility, featuring a wide array of free weights, strength and cardio equipment for members of any level of experience.