Sports
High School Sports Players Pump Iron Over Summer
Team members use the high school's weight room to prepare for the upcoming seasons.
The doors to the Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School weight room open at 6:30 a.m., allowing student athletes—soccer players, football players, volleyball players—to come and go throughout the morning.
The weight room is already a busy place throughout the school year, but in the summer, it is where athletes find a haven to hone their strength and polish up.
Sports teams don't officially start practicing until later this month, so time in the room also gives youngsters an opportunity to strengthen their camaraderie.
Football players follow a program to help them, according to assistant varsity coach Rich McGriff. But all of the athletes are working hard.
"It's a way to get the whole school involved,'' McGriff said. "We don't want
anybody losing strength. That's one of the biggest things. The summer time is more about making sure they stay strong instead of losing anything, sitting at home.''
anybody losing strength. That's one of the biggest things. The summer time is more about making sure they stay strong instead of losing anything, sitting at home.''
On a recent day, junior Nick Sebolao jumped rope between weight lifting reps in a
hallway outside. Sebolao said he's trying to get back into shape after missing the last football season due to a shoulder injury.
hallway outside. Sebolao said he's trying to get back into shape after missing the last football season due to a shoulder injury.
Sebalao tore ligaments and suffered a concussion during a wrestling meet with Perth Amboy when he was a freshman in February 2008. He delayed surgery because he wanted to play baseball, but finally had the operation on his left shoulder last Oct. 17 at Morristown Memorial Hospital. Now, he's back on the football team, preparing to be a wide receiver and defensive back.
"I have fully rehabbed. I have no complaints, I'm back to normal,'' said Sebolao,
who lifts every day. "I need to stretch it (shoulder) out and do a couple of dumbbell activities. The rest of what I do is what all the rest of the football players do in the gym. None of my endurance has changed, the only thing I need to do is improve my cardio.''
who lifts every day. "I need to stretch it (shoulder) out and do a couple of dumbbell activities. The rest of what I do is what all the rest of the football players do in the gym. None of my endurance has changed, the only thing I need to do is improve my cardio.''
The football team focuses on leg exercises, heavy squats, and light power cleans. They do different exercises on different days. Saad Ahmad, who'll be a senior on the football team, was working on his lower body on a recent weekday.
"I'm trying to get bigger and get ready for the season,'' Ahmad said. "I have been
working out the whole year, so it's not like I just started off. I've been going with
the flow. I'm happy with my progress right now.''
working out the whole year, so it's not like I just started off. I've been going with
the flow. I'm happy with my progress right now.''
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here
