Bonsu Elite Athletics, a sports performance training facility in Ceres, was featured on the ABC10 Morning News program earlier this month for making a difference in the community.
BEA co-owner Les Bonsu answered questions live while being interviewed by TV reporter Marcus S. Allen on Nov. 6.
“It’s definitely very flattering for a big station to reach out and do a story,” Bonsu said. “People start businesses for different reasons. I just wanted to put a great product out there and safe place for athletes to train.”
Located at 3427 Railroad Avenue, BEA specializes in speed, agility and strength training.
The majority of Bonsu’s clients are in high school.
He also offers sessions for college, middle school and youth athletes.
“If you have the dream of playing high school and college sports, this is a good foundation to start,” Bonsu said. “All the hard work you put in definitely pays off.”
Bonsu has been the go-to trainer for many of the top athletes from this area, including Cade Cowell, Nicole “Sis” Bates, Kendall Wesenberg and DaRon Bland.
Cowell, who currently plays professional soccer for Chivas Guadalajara, started training at BEA when he was in the seventh grade at Cesar Chavez Jr. High. The 21-year-old has been called up to the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team 10 times.
“Bonsu is the most positive trainer I’ve ever been around,” Cowell said in a past interview with the Courier. “He is always super easy to talk to and is very funny. He has a great relationship with any athlete that goes in there, no matter who they are. He also knows his stuff, is always really good with any workout, and if you need extra help with anything, he knows exactly what to do. I couldn’t thank Bonsu enough for what he did for me.”
Bates, a member of the USA Women’s National Softball Team, started training at BEA during her junior year at Ceres High School.
She went on to enjoy a record-breaking career at the University of Washington before getting selected in the Athletes Unlimited Softball Draft in 2021.
Bates has an endorsement deal with Adidas.
She has her own signature pair of cleats with the athletic brand.
Adidas started selling Bates’ “Remember to Have Fun” batting gloves and jersey on its website last week.
“I’ve been working with coach Bonsu since I was in high school,” Bates stated in an Instagram post on Nov. 5. “My best friend Austin (Stiles) was super close with coach Bonsu so I started going there. He helped me so much be my strongest and most durable self when I got to college. And he continues to give me a space to train when I come home for the holidays. I’m super grateful for everything he does and everything he is still doing for current student-athletes. I think it’s amazing we have somebody like coach Bonsu in our area so that young aspiring athletes can go train and get their body prepared for the next level.”
Wesenberg finished 17th overall while representing Team USA in the women’s skeleton competition at the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea.
“I first started training with him (Bonsu) in 2013 at his facility on Bangs in Modesto,” said Wesenberg, a 2008 Central Catholic High School grad who completed her college education at the University of Colorado. “I wasn’t great at Olympic lifting and he coached me. He also helped me with my sprint forms and mechanics. That helped me move more efficiently.”
“Les is awesome,” she added. “The environment he creates is so positive. He’s really constructive. He knows what he’s talking about and gives good feedback.”
Bland, a 2017 Central Catholic High School grad who starred in football at Fresno State and Sacramento State, got selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2022 NFL Draft.
The standout cornerback earned All-Pro honors this past year.
Bland set a single-season NFL record for most interceptions returned for a touchdown with five.
He also led the league in picks with nine and interception return yards with 209.
Bonsu Elite Athletics has had more than 150 athletes earn scholarships to college.
“Getting somebody that doesn’t believe in themselves and seeing them achieve their goal is the most enjoyable part,” Bonsu said.
BEA trains up to 80 people a day.
The facility is open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
“We have sessions every 90 minutes,” Bonsu said.
BEA will celebrate its 16th anniversary in April.
“This is something I’ve always envisioned,” Les Bonsu said. “I didn’t think I’d grow as fast as I did. It’s based on results. I don’t really advertise. It’s by word of mouth. Parents talk to each other.”
For more information about Bonsu Elite Athletics, call 209-247-2695.
