80 show up for workouts

By Donnie A. Lucas

Over 80 local athletes entering grades 7-12 in the fall showed up for the first day of summer conditioning on Monday at the high school.

This is the first time that student athletes have been allowed back to use the school’s facilities since schools across Texas were closed on March 16 by the Texas Education Agency due to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.

Strength and conditioning programs were approved to start June 8 as officials slowly begin reopening certain facilities for the first time since spring break.

The strengthening and conditioning times will continue on Monday through Thursday through the end of July, with the exception of a couple of blackout periods in July.

The boys will have morning strength and conditioning from 7:00 a.m. until 8:30 a.m. on Monday through Thursdays.

Girls who want to participate will meet from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m., also on Monday through Thursday mornings.

The off days are July 6-9 and July 20-23 for the girls, while the boys will only be off on July 7-8 and July 20-21.

UIL has designated those dates as “periods of no activity.”

In addition to conditioning, athletes will be allowed to engage in a limited amount of sport-specific training.

Girls will have basketball instruction on Tuesdays during the month of June from 5:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. The basketball sessions will not continue in July.

“We can only provide individual instruction, so no offense versus defense drills,” head girls basketball coach Tate Thompson said. “They will spend time doing dribbling, passing, and shooting.”

Girls wanting volleyball instruction will meet on Thursdays from 5:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. throughout the period, except for the off dates of July 9 and July 23.

Specific instruction for the boys will be provided for football and possibly some basketball skills.

The boys will meet on Mondays and Wednesdays during both months with the exception of July 8 and July 20.

Coaches on hand Monday were pleased with the amount of participation.

“We had 45 boys show up, which is more than we expected,” athletic director Ryder Peacock said. “We were excited to see their enthusiasm.”

The athletes were divided into small groups, with a coach in charge of each group.

“I think we will see a few more guys come to the evening sessions who may be working at other jobs in the mornings,” he said. “It will be great to have these guys be able to spend time with some of their teammates and do some bonding.”

Girls coach Tate Thompson said that 36 girls were present Monday for the first session.

“It was encouraging to see so many of the girls show up,” he said. “But it was just the first day, so we will see how the numbers hold up throughout the week.”

Thompson said that the girls are split into two groups, alternating between work in the weight room and outside drills.

“We are having to follow the protocol and wipe down all the equipment before and after it is used,” Thompson said. “While we urge the girls to come, we don’t need anyone to come who has any symptoms of the virus. They just need to stay home to be safe until they are better.”

Youth Camps

Peacock said that the use of indoor facilities has still not been approved for anything other than the conditioning program.

“Our youth camps are still in limbo until we are allowed by UIL to expand their use,” he said. “We hope that will change soon so we can offer some of the camps that are usually held for the younger kids.”