It’s All In The Preparation — NHS Athletes Build Strength In Offseason

By Andy Hutchison

From running wind sprints and lifting weights to partaking in a series of grueling strength- and endurance-building fitness exercises, some of Newtown High School’s hardworking athletes are pushing themselves perhaps like they never have before as they get ready for the upcoming fall sports campaign throughout the summer.

The Newtown High School Team Training Program, directed by Newtown High Football Coach Steve George and speed training coach Cody Foss, helps prepare football players for the hard-hitting game on the gridiron. The Lady Nighthawks Preseason Conditioning Program, run by NHS Athletic Trainer Sabrina Byrne, gives the girls a chance to gear up for their upcoming season.

Both of the programs take place at Newtown High, with much of the activity at Blue & Gold Stadium. The Team Training Program, which has been in place for a decade, got started just after the school year ended and will continue into the middle of August before the football players finally get a chance to put the pads back on and get back to skill and contact drills. Byrne’s program, which has been in place for four years, lasts a month. Both offerings take place weekday mornings for about two hours and are designed for injury prevention, strength building, and to provide speed training to athletes. There are no balls, no padding … just a lot of running and various exercises to improve the performance levels of these athletes.

“It’s part of the culture now and the kids know it’s something they need to do if they’re going to play here,” George said. The coach added that the summertime effort put forth by his players has been instrumental in his team’s winning success in recent years.

“It definitely pays off. It gets us physically and mentally prepared for the season,” football captain Chris Devaney said.

Byrne started her program when Marc Kenney, the high school’s girls’ soccer coach, was looking for a way to have his players show up for the first day of preseason practice in tip-top shape. Byrne says she offers the training for all female athletes, but notes that only the soccer team members participate.

“I definitely don’t think half the people would make it through preseason without this,” soccer team captain Amy Martin said. “It definitely gives us a huge jumpstart.”

Byrne and Foss are both certified strength and conditioning coaches and supervise the players in drill after drill, and George oversees the weightlifting and some of the conditioning elements.

Paraphrasing Kenney, Byrne said the coach wants his to be the most fit team in the South-West Conference. “Fitness is key to success,” Byrne said.

Byrne runs injury-prevention, speed, and agility drills — using change of direction to strengthen leg muscles so the girls can endure quick stops and pivots on the field when chasing the soccer ball.

A medicine ball is used for core strength-building, and athletes are directed to hop on one leg, perform squat jumps, and use jump ropes. “The harder you work the more you’re going to get out of it,” Byrne tells the athletes.

“It helps so much,” Martin said. “She gives us a chance to work on strengthening the key muscles we use for soccer.”

The Team Training Program features former NHS football players who help out in running the drills along with the coaches. Among this year’s attendees is Max Nacewicz, who graduated two years ago, and is an applied exercise science major at Springfield College in Massachusetts. “It’s fun to see all of the new faces. I remember just a couple of years ago I was in the same spot,” said Nacewicz, adding that the program is crucial for success of the team. Nacewicz predicts that with this rigorous workout time under their belts the Nighthawks will be a tough to stop this fall.

Foss said that, in addition to fending off injuries, the workouts could lead to winning success. He is hopeful that the program will give the Nighthawks a competitive advantage in close games, or pay off in the form of late-season and playoff success.

Last year, both the football and girls’ soccer teams had tremendous success but fell just short of their championship goals. Both squads lost in the conference championship games and came close to getting to the pinnacle matches in the state playoffs.