Most athletes that are a part of a sports team at FHS start conditioning before their season begins. However, the degree to which they condition varies. Some athletes condition year round to stay in good shape, while others start preparing based on their specific sport. On the other hand, some students that don’t participate in sports also try to stay in shape.
Many football players can be found hanging out in the gym after school, lifting weights and preparing for the upcoming season. The football team basically takes over the weight room on days where their workout sessions take place. However, these sessions are not mandatory.
Senior Alex Kastrol enjoys working out and staying in shape. “…conditioning and lifting and working out definitely helped me succeed in being a better athlete,” Kastrol said.
Kastrol has been conditioning on his own for a good portion of his life now, and it has improved him for the better. If Kastrol didn’t work out, he believes his abilities would be limited. “I probably wouldn’t be nearly as fast or as strong, so I probably wouldn’t be as talented.”
In many cases, student athletes condition as a team. Spring sports recently started mandatory practices, and Senior Aaron McSorley feels that pre-season baseball conditioning always helps the team out for the actual season.
“[Conditioning] is important because it builds team unity and makes us better and stronger in the process. Plus it prepares us physically for the season,” McSorley said.
Baseball conditioning began near the end of November and had one weekly practice up until Christmas break. After that, the practices took place multiple times a week.
Some of the members of the track team also participate in indoor track, and those athletes consider it conditioning for the outdoor track season. Mandatory practices for track and field began in March.
The beginning of softball conditioning was in January and occurred on Saturdays and Sundays. Sophomore Kali Ralston feels that conditioning is an asset to the success of the team’s season.
“[Conditioning] gets us in better shape for the season and we get to know one another and learn to work with one another before the season actually starts,” Ralston said.
Athletic Trainer Vince Sinovic agrees that conditioning and working out in the off season is helpful, but also healthy for the body.
Sinovic believes that conditioning is also a good idea because when an athlete’s specific sport season does come around, “…all you have to do then is take some of the rough edges off, and you’re ready to go,” Sinovic said.
According to Sinovic, Freedom’s conditioning programs are superb and “we have the people that run the programs that are really good, really good [coaches].” Sinovic recommends that athletes start conditioning before the season begins.