Next Level Training Center
Taking Training to the Next Level in Greenville
If you visit Next Level Training in Greenville, you’ll see one of the largest indoor turf fields in North Carolina, 12 batting cages, pitching mounds, a fitness center, and an athletic training area. You’ll see baseball and softball instruction, strength and speed classes, and a wide variety of clinics and camps to help athletes improve their game. The facility is impressive, but the most palpable part of Next Level Training isn’t seen with our eyes; it’s the servant mentality of owners Trent and Gaynel Britt and their coaches and staff. Trent and Gaynel’s deep commitment to their community has enabled Next Level to grow from a part-time training center to a year-round, highly sought-after, all-encompassing premier facility for athletes of all levels.
The Britts have been connected with the Greenville youth sports scene for a couple of decades. Both of their children, Dalton and Taylor, were very active in the Greenville/Pitt County youth sports scene growing up. Eventually, Dalton played both college and professional baseball, while Taylor was part of a 4A State Championship volleyball team at JH Rose High School. It was really through the experiences and achievements of their kids that Trent and Gaynel’s vision began to crystallize. That vision was to develop a safe, competitive, full-time facility where athletes of all ages and abilities could train together.
In 2010 they made that bold vision a reality by opening Next Level Training Center. Building on the legacy of two previous ownership groups, which was full of great baseball people, who had run part-time baseball businesses at the address, the Britts went all-in.
Next Level Training provides classes, clinics, and camps for athletes of all ages in its premier year-round indoor facility. 
Next Level Training’s indoor facility includes batting cages, pitching mounds, an athletic training area, and a fitness center.
It took years of elbow grease, many 18-hour workdays, continued relationship-building, and lots of perseverance to eventually get over the proverbial hump. “Around 2015, things finally started to click. People began seeing that their kids could come here and have resources and a supportive environment to help them improve. We were meeting kids at their skill level, challenging them to get better, and providing resources, knowledge, and programming to help them do it. And then they were telling other people in the community about their experience here,” shares Trent.
In addition to preparing athletes for excelling on the field, Trent says that the sense of community they strive to foster here is just as important. While Trent’s passion is growing athletes, Gaynel’s passion is connecting with the kids on everything else, asking them how things are at home, how classes are going, and just generally helping them to feel loved and supported.
“Being a successful athlete is about much more than just athleticism and it's important we help kids here understand that. Everything affects everything. We try to encourage them that being a good teammate, being coachable, and taking care of your business at school and at home all affect overall success," says Trent.
When it comes to their business banking, the Britts had used several other community banks in the area, but each of those was eventually closed. Based on their long-standing relationship with Greg Steele, who was now working for TowneBank, and their existing business relationship with the folks at Towne Insurance, the Britts decided it was time to fully come to TowneBank. Gaynel says the service was top-notch from the very beginning, with the Towne team really seeking to clearly understand the unique needs of their business and how to best provide solutions. “ Jessica Shook, Merchant Sales Advisor and Nick Fisher are very responsive and so easy to work with. Jessica drove from Raleigh and spent over 10 hours with me to help do account changeover tasks in the beginning. Glenn Marsh, Branch Manager, and Greg Steele, Greenville President, are so knowledgeable and helpful. We couldn’t ask for anything better,” says Gaynel.
Next Level has helped grow thousands of athletes over the last 14 years, helps 20-25 athletes per year get awarded college scholarships, and now has over 25 alumni who have been drafted into professional baseball or softball, but these numbers are not the most important thing to the Britts. When asked about what he’d like people to remember after their time at Next Level, Trent says, “Simple. The relationships. As you age, you begin to realize the importance of relationships you build. We are with many of these kids and families 200-300 days per year, year after year, through every developmental stage. That relationship means everything. And it often continues long after they are done playing and competing. That is special.”
For more information, visit NextLevelTC.com.