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It’s fourth down as the Flathead Braves go head to head with their arch-rivals, CMR. The CMR quarterback hikes the ball and hands off to his halfback, who runs toward the CMR sideline in a sweep.
Senior Joel Robinson recognizes the play and follows the halfback, meeting him head-on in his lane; he levels the halfback with a sickening thud right in front of his sideline.
With a resounding “Oh” from the other team ringing in his ears, Joel experiences the ultimate payoff of weightlifting.
“Weightlifting has completely changed me,” said Robinson. “We played some hard games but because of lifting I was able to stay strong and win.”
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, a handful of Flathead athletes take to the weight room to work out as part of the Flathead Braves’ weightlifting program. Students are given a program to follow which uses various lifting exercises to tone and strengthen muscles.
“(Weightlifting) gets you a lot stronger,” said sophomore Will Hankinson. “The program that you lift with sets you up for success.”
Success is what everyone is looking for — not just in lifting, but in the sports they compete in. Lifters hope to take what they gain in the weight room and use it to their advantage on the field, court, or gridiron.
“I’m glad they offer us the program,” said junior Jon Sears. “It helps me maintain the strength and endurance I need during the season.”
Football players aren’t the only athletes able to gain an advantage in the weight room. Players of all sports are welcome to partake of the weight lifting program.
“The program helps everyone,” said Bob Applegate, morning weight room supervisor. “Whether you’re a wrestler or a girls’ volleyball player you can benefit. It’s not a football program.”
Junior Mike Long, a member of FHS track, has benefited from hours in the weight room.
“Lifting has made me a better athlete,” said Long. “It has made me stronger and faster for the track season.”
Most lifters find that the motivation and guidance of coaches are the main reason for lifting here at FHS.
“I think the program is great,” said junior Josh Bradley. “The coaches are able to push us to try harder.”
The motivation comes in large part from coach Bufford Bennett, who runs the program after school.
“Coach Bufford is a guy that leads by example,” said Applegate. “He’s extremely dedicated in the weight room and the students follow his intensity.”
Bennett’s program is one that works several different areas of the body.
“The workout is a combination of strength, endurance and speed,” said Applegate. “We’re not just here to create strong athletes, we are creating stronger and faster athletes.”
The rewards include being named in weight clubs that recognize the lifting ability of students by acknowledging their combined lifting totals of cleans, bench and squats.
“We have clubs like the 700-pound, 800-pound, etc… The 1000-pound club is the elite,” said Bradley. “To be in a club shows that you have put great effort toward lifting.”
Lifters say the activity may be grueling, but it’s also fun.
“It was tough for me to get started,” said Sears. “But once I got into the program, I found I was enjoying it.”
Though students take several things from lifting, the main motivation remains improving athletically.
“The main reason I do it is that when the season rolls around, you can see how it helps,” said Bradley. “That’s the real payoff.” |
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