As the school year winds down and summer break begins, many students head for vacation or downtime. But for the Washburn Rural athletes competing in fall sports, the work is just getting started.

On Monday-Thursday mornings, before most of the town is awake, athletes from grades 9-12 gather in the weight room. The clanging of plates, echo of motivational shouts, and steady rhythm of conditioning drills mark the beginning of their summer training program.

The summer workout program is designed to improve strength, speed, endurance, and mental toughness. Players are split into groups and rotate through weightlifting circuits, agility drills, etc.

Teams will also compete in off-season camps, such as the football team will travel to a handful of colleges to compete against other teams across the state. This is a really good time to see and preview how the team is and what the potential could be. Senior Sammy Brumley said, “the biggest thing in the summer is attention to detail and having everyone brought into the program. If they are, we will succeed.” Senior Ayden Crosswhite also added, “the importance of our summer workouts is not just the aspect of getting sronger physically, but mentally. Fighting through tough reps so we can apply that to the field pushing past our limits bringing each other up and working as a team building team chemistry.” I also asked Crosswhite what he is looking to improve on for this coming season. “I’m focusing on improving not just in the physical aspect of faster, stronger, and quicker but the mental aspect of reading the game and leading more for my team. I want to leave WRHS knowing I gave everything I had for this team.”

Summer weights/conditioning starts June 5! Go Blues!