LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. - Former Racine auto dealer Jon Palmen is about to open Athletic Republic Libertyville, a sports training facility for all ages, here.

Palmen, 39, who also coaches basketball at The Prairie School, will open his new franchise to the public with an open house from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Dec. 13. His Athletic Republic is on the second floor of the Libertyville Sports Complex, 1950 N. Highway 45.

Palmen, of Kenosha, a former three-sport athlete in high school and college, said he learned about the Fargo, N.D.-based company through research and heard recommendations from school athletic directors.

Athletic Republic emphasizes exercise physiology as it relates to acceleration, strength and speed in a safe training environment.

Athletic Republic's training protocols are organized by age, ability level and individual athletes' goals, Palmen said. "Whether you're a 13-year-old who plays Little League baseball or a 30-year-old professional hockey player who wants to gain a stride on the ice, we provide scientifically based, established systems that provide people with tools to improve their overall athleticism."

In addition to training protocols, Athletic Republic features its own specially designed equipment. The hockey treadmill, for example, has a special surface that mimics skating across ice, Palmen said.

Six training programs are offered: acceleration; hockey; cord conditioning; recreational athlete; team training; and maintenance. Palmen said programs are designed for a preseason, postseason or in season, or maintenance.

The per-session cost will typically be less than $30 for an individual athlete, and less than $20 per person for a team.

Palmen said he hopes to eventually open Athletic Republic franchises in Kenosha, Racine, Milwaukee and another in Illinois.

The company, founded in 1990, now has more than 160 locations throughout North America, the United Kingdom, Russia and Japan. Wisconsin has four, in Appleton, Middleton, Janesville and Green Bay.

Palmen was with Palmen Automotive Group of Racine and Palmen Motors Inc. until April 2007. That October he filed a lawsuit against his brother, Andrew Palmen, accusing him of systematically cutting him out of and terminating him from the family automotive enterprise.

Andrew countersued; the lawsuit was settled out of court this August.

On The Net:

http://www.athleticrepublic.com