The Trojan football season may be done but the training for a better season next year never stops.

Monday, January 12 the Trojans were hitting the weight rooms to get stronger for next year. The athletes were doing many vigorous exercises on machines such as the bench press, squat racks, inclines, declines, and deadlifts. Coach David Potts believed with the help of the weightlifting program the players have improved in strength, come closer together as a team, and build a strong ethic of dedication to the team. Many returning varsity players showed the up and coming JV players the ropes of the weight room like: always pay attention to the lifter, never lift more than you can handle, and we work as a team not on our own. Most players were eager to start weightlifting to train for the summer conditioning to earn a spot out on the turf, not riding the bench during kickoff.

With approximately 40 players and just two coaches, Coach Potts and Estes may have felt overwhelmed but were glad so many turned out for the start of the conditioning. Potts started coaching for the Trojans in early 2002 and thinks that the players benefit from the weightlifting by getting faster, by developing tougher leg muscles, stronger by improving core strength, and increasing overall size by working on various muscles. The weightlifting program, however, was started long before Potts arrival. It began around 1987 and under the direction of now retired Coach Brown it was able to get much needed equipment for it’s athletes.

“The Trojan weightlifting program has seen the some of the strongest players in the last two years,” said Potts. Football has a reputation as a sport that is brutally hard.  Weightlifting lightens the load for the players during scorching summer practices.

The dedication and effort of these players is clear as is their goal, victory in the upcoming season. As sophomore Andrew Snead said, “The weightlifting program helps for a better season by helping the players come together not only as a team but as a family.”