Dylan and Kasey Hudock know what it means to have a community show up for their family. Now they’re opening their doors to that same community, hoping to help Wake Forest families grow stronger, one at a time.
At D1 Training Wake Forest, which opened September 19, the Hudocks are building more than a business. They want children and adults to feel supported, discover what they’re capable of, and have a place where they belong.
In June 2023, Dylan was accidentally shot while spending an evening with friends. The bullet traveled through his arm and into his chest. He spent nearly two months at Duke before beginning a long recovery. During that time, neighbors brought meals, drove their children to school and camp, and mowed the lawn.
“This community showed up for us,” Dylan said. “D1 is our way of giving back.”
The experience changed how Dylan and Kasey thought about the years ahead. They had talked about owning a business, but they no longer wanted to put that dream off. They wanted to build something their children could watch grow, and that would serve the place they call home.
As a parent and youth travel hockey coach, Dylan knew families whose evenings and weekends revolved around practices and games. He and Kasey saw young athletes traveling to Raleigh and beyond for training. They saw an opportunity to give Wake Forest families a place close to home where children and adults could work toward their goals with qualified coaches under one roof.
D1 serves people ages 7 and up, whether they’re children building confidence, teenagers preparing for tryouts, or parents returning to exercise. Each 54-minute, coach-led class includes a warm-up, performance drills, strength training, core work, and a cool-down. D1 also offers personal training, team training and camps.
“You don’t need to be in shape to start,” Dylan said. “That’s what we’re here for.”
The Hudocks have created nearly a dozen local jobs and connect members with local specialists in nutrition, sports psychology, and recovery. By working with other health and wellness businesses, they hope to support fellow business owners while giving families access to care that extends beyond the gym.
Years from now, Dylan and Kasey hope their children, Lincoln, Lennon and Ellie, will see how their family turned a painful experience into something good for others.
“Dylan and Kasey’s resilience is inspiring. They’ve taken an incredibly difficult experience and chosen to build something that helps other local families. When owners lead with their hearts, their dreams create jobs, bring people together, and make a lasting difference in the community all at the same time,” said Jason Cannon, President of the Wake Forest Business and Industry Partnership (WFBIP).
D1 Training Wake Forest is at 920 Timberline View Drive, Wake Forest. Classes run weekday mornings and evenings and Saturday mornings. Find the full schedule at d1training.com/facility/wake-forest.
