Introductions are a vital part of starting a job. A good one can get you respect, it also can set you up to show you mean business and are willing to make a change.

New football coach Tony Crough did just that. In March, Crough sent out an email saying how he wanted to make a change and that change was getting student-athletes in the weight room.

“We are up to 336 enrolled in a weights class and are looking for more,” Crough said. “Every athlete in the school should be in weights class all year if they are serious about their sport.”

Any other student interested in improving their overall wellness is invited as well.

“All athletes weight train,” Crough said. “If you don’t, you are not an athlete.”

Crough said you are falling behind and will struggle against competition that is lifting. He wants this school to be competitive in all sports and he believes it starts in the weight room.

“SPS (Strength, Power, Speed) will be geared more towards athletes,” Crough said. “But all classes will be working on athletic movements.”

Crough said weightlifting in its purest form is a sport, so all the classes will be athletic based.

The difference between the students in sports versus if they are not is just recovery and rest, but other than that they will be doing the same basic lifts.

“In season, athletes will focus more on making sure they are fresh and ready for their competitions,” Crough said. “They will be working on explosive movements to help compete as well.”

To get to that point, they will be working on nine essential lifts–plyos, agilities, flexibility and mobility movements. They will also focus on injury prevention.

The explosive movements will mimic athletic movements performed in sports. Crough wants the athletes to be flexible, fast and powerful.

Crough thinks weightlifting is as important than practicing your sport.

“If your body doesn’t have a good base to begin with then it won’t perform that specific sport skills you are learning at a high level,” Crough said. “So, essentially when all things are equal, the stronger, more powerful, faster athlete will win. Athletes win in the weight room.”

He believes we can build a great culture of successful athletics in the weight room that will carry over to all sports and infect the hallways with confidence and school spirit.  Teams and programs that workout together win together.

“If an athlete doesn’t work out with their team, it shows a lack of commitment to their program and is a statement that I’m not willing to work hard to make sure I’m at my best for my team,” Crough said. “All athletes lift. Let’s change the culture together.”

19mfagan@usd489.com