When the Prodigy Athletic Center opened on Route 100 in Somers, it announced itself as something Westchester County had not seen before: a true all-in-one athletic facility that takes sports, fitness, and youth development equally seriously. At 25,000 square feet, with four volleyball courts, four pickleball courts, a fully equipped fitness center, a yoga and dance studio, a dedicated martial arts space, physical therapy services, and speed and agility training, the Prodigy Athletic Center — known as PAC — is doing exactly what it set out to do.
The facility was founded by coaching veterans Bill and Diane Swertfager and business leader Daniel Papes. The Swertfagers bring decades of athletic coaching experience to the venture: Bill was a wrestling state champion, football and baseball captain, and later a long-tenured youth coach, while Diane is a four-time state volleyball coach with 17 Section 1 championships at Hendrick Hudson High School. Papes, a Horace Greeley alumnus with business acumen and deep roots in the local community, provides the organizational backbone.
More Than a Gym
The vision behind PAC goes beyond fitness. The center’s stated mission is to build character alongside athletic skill, and that philosophy shapes every program it runs. For youth athletes in particular, PAC emphasizes leadership, integrity, and personal growth alongside the development of technical skill. As Diane Swertfager has put it, character is as important as skill.
Since opening, PAC has drawn participants from as far as 45 minutes away — a testament to the quality of its programs and the gap it has filled in the regional market. Within months of opening, it had welcomed more than 500 participants across its volleyball, pickleball, pilates, yoga, and fitness programs. Growth has outpaced projections by more than double.
A Home for Pickleball
One of PAC’s most significant recent developments is its role as the new home of The Pickleball Barn, a beloved local pickleball community that relocated to PAC’s indoor courts following the closure of its previous home at Hardscrabble Club. The four indoor courts, with professional-grade Teraflex flooring and year-round climate control, have given the pickleball community a permanent, high-quality home in Somers.
Something for Everyone
Whether you are a competitive high school volleyball player, a weekend pickleball enthusiast, someone looking to get into yoga, or a parent who wants their child in a structured athletic environment, PAC has a program for you. With memberships starting at $45 per month and family rates at $190, the center has made accessibility a priority alongside quality.
Prodigy Athletic Center is, in every sense, a reflection of what Somers is becoming: a community that takes health, competition, and well-being seriously.