Philosophy:
At The Upstate Performance Project our mission is to provide the highest quality training in The Upstate. Our philosophy is grounded in educating our clients, whether it be a team of athletes or one-on-one personal training clients. We feel that if our clients know the “hows” and “whys” of what we are doing, they will buy into the process and yield a lifetime of results. For example, if a clients knows how a good, deep squat will help them, they will be more likely to push hard through the movement when the weight becomes more challenging.
What we do:
Using a very holistic wellness approach, we will help the client find success by watching them move and correcting small deficiencies in order to improve their structural balance. Simply put, we will make sure your body is ready to start chipping away at your goals safely and effectively. With over 20 years of experience, our trainers will help you set your goals, navigate obstacles, motivate you, and write a plan that is tailor-made for you.
Meet The Trainers:
chelsi@upstateperformanceproject.com
Chelsi Woodruff is a former Division 1 athlete for Florida State University. She ran Cross Country and Track for FSU from 2010-2015. She specialized in the 3,000m Steeplechase and earned First Team All-ACC honors in the event when she placed third at the 2015 ACC Outdoor Track and Field Championships in a time of 10:13. Her time of 10:13.69 currently ranks her #8 on Florida State’s Outdoor Top 10 All-Time Performance List. She was also a two-time NCAA East Preliminary Round Qualifier in 2014 and 2015 in the steeplechase. On the cross country course, she received All-Region honors when she placed in the top 25 at the NCAA D1 South Region meet in 2014. She was FSU’s #5 runner in that race and helped her team earn yet another automatic qualifying spot to the NCAA D1 Cross Country Championships in Terre Haute, IN. She was also a member of the 2011 NCAA D1 Cross Country Championship Team, where FSU earned a 4th place, podium finish, as well as three other ACC Championship winning teams in both cross country and track. In 2014, she was awarded the Tracey Pepoon True Seminole Award for her dedication and perseverance. Due to a few injuries, 
Woodruff was given a 5th year and stayed to compete and earn another minor. Woodruff graduated in May 2015 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Family and Child Sciences and two minors in Sports Science and Psychology.
Prior to Florida State, she had an outstanding high school career at Trinity Preparatory School in Winter Park, FL. She earned numerous top 8 performances at the FHSAA Track and Field State Championships in the 1600m, 800m, and 4x400m relay. She also earned a 6th place and a 9th place finish at the FHSAA Cross Country Championships during her high school career. Her high school personal bests were 5:09 for the 1600m, 2:18 for 800m, which is still the Trinity Prep school record, 18:30 for 5k (xc), and she was a member of the 4x400m relay team, who still holds the Trinity Prep school record as well.
After graduating from Florida State, Woodruff moved to Greenville, South Carolina to continue her running career with ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE. She ran a personal bes
t of 4:26 in the 1500m, when she traveled back to her home track in Tallahassee, FL to race at the 2016 Seminole Invite. She not only PRed, but also brought home a win on her collegiate home track. While running for GTC-ELITE, she worked part time for the YMCA of Greenville as a Wellness Associate, and then as a Personal Trainer, once she received her ACSM CPT. She worked primarily at the GHS Family YMCA in Simpsonville, and also worked a little bit at the GIT Family YMCA in Travelers Rest. Woodruff found tremendous success during her first year of personal training and sold over $20,000 in personal training for the association (working only part-time), which earned her “Tier 1 Trainer” status at the YMCA of Greenville. She was the top selling personal trainer at the GHS Family YMCA branch, which is the largest YMCA in the state of South Carolina.
Upon her success as a personal trainer, Woodruff decided to not renew her running contract with ASICS GTC-ELITE and worked towards a full-time position at the YMCA instead. She earned her ACSM EIM (Exercise is Medicine) certification 
during this transition period, so she could be certified to work with chronic diseased patients who are referred to the YMCA of Greenville through the GHS Hospital System. In January 2017, she received a full-time position as a Wellness Specialist at the Caine Halter Family YMCA, where she oversaw the entire wellness staff at the branch (Personal Trainers, Wellness Coaches, and Wellness Associates) and was an EIM Pro Trainer there as well. Woodruff had a successful career at the YMCA of Greenville and accredits them to her success as a personal trainer and manager. She resigned at Caine Halter in August 2017 to pursue her lifelong dream of opening her own training facility, The Upstate Performance Project.
Woodruff has a true passion for helping others reach their fitness goals and potential. She not only enjoys pushing her clients through strength training sessions, but is also big on injury prevention exercises and recovery techniques. She gives a large amount of 
credit to Spectrum, Inc. (Dan Schuck and Will Hitzelberger) in Orlando, FL for helping her find her true passion when she started working out with them in 8th grade. She also contributes her learned knowledge of corrective/injury prevention exercises to the Florida State University Athletic Training Staff, especially Jerry Latimer and Natalie Fontela. Woodruff is currently working on earning her CSCS certification through the NSCA.
PETE TOWNLEY, CO-OWNER, HEAD TRAINER
pete@upstateperformanceproject.com
With over 18 years in the business, Pete brings his unique experiences in the fitness world to downtown Greenville. Pete started out his career as an athletic trainer helping athletes and clients prevent and recover from injuries, a skill that will be a cornerstone of the UPP philosophy. While athletic training, Townley was personal training as well, which eventually landed him his first management role as the lead personal trainer a
t a PT studio/physical therapy clinic. It was there where Pete was first able to blend his knowledge of how the body can be injured and his personal fitness knowledge, and thus preventing these injuries in his training clients. In addition to helping clients back from injuries, Pete started training athletes as well. In 2007, he started a speed, power, and agility program ( P.A.S.S.) that served to help many area athletes reach the college ranks in their respective sports. In 2012, Townley took a full time job at Ottawa University as the division chair of the exercise science program, and oversaw the strength and conditioning duties as well. The soccer, volleyball, football, and softball teams all were conference champions while under his guidance in the gym. While at Ottawa, Pete was successful in creating the first 4-year scholar-shipped varsity powerlifting team, and only the 5th scholar-
shipped weightlifting team. Most recently Townley has been the Sr. Wellness director at the YMCA in Greenville, and is finishing up his PhD
studies to go along with his Masters in Exercise Physiology.
As an athlete, Townley has played many sports and currently enjoys olympic weightlifting. Pete enjoys the coaching and programming aspect of helping clients reach their goals and in over the last 18 years, he has worked with clients from ages 8 – 87, NFL and NHL athletes, pro baseball athletes, numerous folks with muscle and bone issues, weight loss clients, and many more. At the heart of everything is his desire to truly help someone find success in their journey. Both Pete and Chelsi have developed a unique way of screening clients and athletes to maximize their ability to be successful for the rest of their lives.
Pete’s certifications:
- NSCA CSCS (certified strength and conditioning specialist)
- USAW (team USA weightlifting) coach
- Yoga certified
- Sports nutrition
- ACSM-EIM
