Guy King knows what it’s like to put blood, sweat and tears into his work — whether it was for sport or the military.

King joined the U.S. Air Force in 1987.

“Spent 15 years in there doing what’s called air-to-air refueling on the KC-135,” said King. “So we would refuel other air craft in the air. [I] participated in Desert Storm.”

King may have medically retired in 2001, but he’s not done serving his community. Now he helps children and teens in Oswego County reach new heights, too. King opened Great Lakes Athletics and Fitness in 2017.

“We wanted the students to have the opportunity to improve as athletes,” he said. “Become more competitive for the area and increase their ability to gain scholarships.”

The new facility gives them the much-needed space to learn and grow, and also showcase their skills.

King took his coaching to the next level by partnering with former NFL player Leroy Collins and other professional athletes, which was an opportunity many can only dream of.

“Whether they are NFL players, Major League Baseball players, soccer athletes, even D-1 lacrosse players coming in here and training individuals, giving them experience that there’s more out there than just being in this local area,” King said.

King hopes this is only a stepping stone and that these drills strengthen more than just their bodies.

“I hope they understand they have a lot more abilities than they think they have; gain confidence in themselves,” said King. “Meet challenges head on, and they can accomplish anything.”