During the 2009 high school football season, the Avery varsity football team improved from a two-win club to a five-win season with victories over rivals Cloudland and Mitchell.With much of its nucleus returning from last year’s club, the Avery football program has already dedicated itself to winning a championship months in advance of its first fall practice.
At the start of the spring school semester, several student-athletes enrolled in a weightlifting class offered for the first time as the last period of the school day. Players have been excited about the opportunity to work out while enjoying the benefit of attending class and learning proper technique.
“This class and the time help us to come together as a class and as a team. Lifting helps us not only get stronger, but also get faster and help us in every aspect of the game,” junior Lucas Lecka said during one of the class sessions last week.
From the first step into the weight room during an afternoon school day, it is evident that the group of students is taking seriously the adage that football season starts in the weight room, working together and pushing one another toward a common goal while trying individually to be the best player they can be.
“In years past we never really had anybody in the room, and now it seems we pretty much have the entire team,” Lecka said. A number of teammates taking the weight training course are in agreement.
“Some people say they can’t wait for football season to start, but when we walk through that door our season has already started, so we have to be ready to work hard every day,” Viking running back/defensive lineman Colton Blackburn stated. “We have goals and we’re in here to achieve them. We’re working hard and doing what the coaches tell us.”
As a student during the football off-season, after school hours are often spent as part of another high school team or holding down a job. Having the class available to players during the school day grants players the opportunity to lift while still taking care of their other commitments after school.
“It’s helped me because I have to work after school, so this way I’m able to lift weights and still go to work without having to miss time working out,” Viking linebacker Tyler Buchanan explained. “Being together helps us to build great teamwork and trust, as well as helping us get along better.”
Avery’s coaches have placed added emphasis on the conditioning and weight program to help the Viking program in both the short term and in the long run.“It is the best thing to ever happen to get this weightlifting class started in the spring semester,” Avery head football coach Darrell Brewer said last week. “We had to work a few schedules around, but it’s been a really good thing. We’re behind because of the winter, but the kids are already starting to grow. You’re seeing that they are working together as a football team encouraging each other. They’re having a good time together and they’re working their butts off together.”
To a person, the Avery high school players who take part in the afternoon weight training class expressed excitement for the middle school athletes lifting at the school two times a week, as well as in some cases disappointment over not having a similar program when they were that age.
“When I was in middle school we didn’t get to lift at the high school. Last year we didn’t have much of a JV program, so I think having those kids able to come and lift will help that group come together and give them a good strong team at that level,” Buchanan said. “Hopefully it will better help them when they move from JV to varsity to know what is going on and have a lot more experience than we did when we moved up and played high school football.”
A number of the veteran players expressed similar sentiments.
“I would have loved to have had the opportunity to come up and lift as a middle school student. It helps you get familiar with the high school, and also it’s good because this is what they will be part of for four years and it will help challenge them and prepare them for what’s expected,”
“I would have loved to have had this. When I was in middle school I looked up to the high school players more than anyone,” Avery wide receiver Kody Hughes said. “I figured if I lifted with them I would be a better athlete. If a weight and conditioning program was available then, I definitely would have taken advantage of it.”
The Viking coaching staff is also seeing quick results of
the middle school weight program on the numbers of kids coming to the weight room after school each Tuesday and Thursday.“Unfortunately last season we had to fold the JV team because we didn’t have enough numbers. Right now we’ve had anywhere from 20 to 25 of those kids coming in the weight room two days a week,” Coach Brewer said. “I think they’re walking into a situation you hate to see, but it’s encouraging, as they are going to have to come in and play immediately. They’re excited to be part of it, and I leave the weight room with a smile every day after having worked with these guys.”
Summer workout conditioning program begins June 7th, and will take place on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday afternoons from
