While many were relaxing over the summer, sports teams were getting
ready for the fall season.
Soccer
Boys soccer coach Mike Murphy worked with the
boys from June 3 to July 26.
The boys soccer team trained for two hours
a day, three days a week. The training regimen
involved athletic development, including time in
the weight room and field training.
This training was recommended but not required,
and there was a charge for basic fees, including
cost of the team shirt and a tournament in Salina.
“I was happy to see the increased skill in the players, including fast
thinking on the field and overall fitness,” Murphy said.
Cheerleading/Pom
The cheerleading and pom squads practiced
from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. throughout June.
After practice, they went to weights
class from 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. The cheerleaders
attended a cheerleading camp in Emporia at the
end of June, while the pom squad attended a camp at
the Great Wolf Lodge.
“The cheerleaders have worked really hard this
summer,” head cheerleading coach, Shannon Biggerstaff
said. “They have made great improvements
since tryouts last spring. They have great work ethic and
continue to set individual and team goals.”
Volleyball
The volleyball team had non-required training
Monday through Thursday.
From 7 a.m. to 8 a.m., they had conditioning,
and from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., they had an
open gym.
There was a $50 charge for the conditioning
training and no charge for open gym.
Coach Stephanie Magnuson saw improvement
after summer training.
“You could see a difference in the ones who were
there on a consistent basis watch them develop,” Magnuson said. “I
think they have seen that as they have gone into the season.”
Weights
Football coach Dirk
Wedd kept busy this summer
too with football and
weights. The weight training
went from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. in the
morning. Then players moved to the
field from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. for more
conditioning.
Several teams did weights training
which included: weight lifting, dumbbell
complexes, muscle plyometrics, along with
running 110s, cut downs, the stadium steps
and much more.
Football
After weights the football players stayed and did
anything from scrimmages to drills with medicine
balls. The training was optional and came with a small
district fee for use of the weight room and materials.
Throughout, they enjoyed a mild summer,.
“Its been terribly hot the last two or three days,”
Wedd said. “We’re not really used to it because it was a
very mild summer.”
Cross Country
The cross country team ran during the summer. Some athletes came
out more than others for runs averaging four to 10 miles. Some did
bicycling, cross training or weights.
For organized training runners met five days a week. They started
at 8 a.m.
It wasn’t required but an average of 15-20 came, out of a team of
40-50.
“The ones who came on a regular basis have made good improvements
in the summer,” coach Brian ‘Chip’ Anderson
said. “They can run longer times,
and I can see a big difference between
the ones who trained and who just
started. There’s a big
difference in what they can
do.”