New Howe Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Bill Jehling, known simply as “Coach J” was impressed with the number of athletes that turned out for the strength and conditioning camp last Monday through Thursday. The camp averaged right at 100 athletes each day that consists of boys and girls that are entering seventh graders to entering seniors.
“We had some kids that were missing, but we’ll get them here. We’ll start making phone calls if we have to,” said Jehling.
Part of the success of the turnout is the roll call for attendance that is taken each morning.
“It holds them accountable. They know that if they don’t show up then they will make it up in the fall. So it’s getting them here,” said Jehling.
During the summer, the athletes are often on vacation and Jehling says that they are communicating if they have to miss a certain day.
Jehling says those that are attending the summer workouts will have a measurable advantage above those that are not showing up.
“I’m a firm believer whether it’s football, basketball, baseball, track, cross county – if you take the time in the summertime to devote yourself to being here, you’re going to be better the next year because you’re going to be coming into school in shape,” said Jehling. “These eight hours a week is huge for us. Because when school starts, you only get 30 minutes a day.”
The workouts are advantageous for a new head coach also because he’s getting to see the middle school athletes for the first time and the entering freshman class.
“I can see these kids and have an idea of what to do with them in 2-a-days. But if they don’t show up, I’m going to be blind to them in August and I’m going to be flying a hundred miles per hour so I’m getting better evaluations from them being here.”
Jehling says that the football players that don’t show up will come into camp out of shape and will struggle. He says that if they don’t take care of June and July, the three-hour workouts in August will be spent in part on conditioning instead of crucial season preparation.
“I’m a firm believer that we’ll be the best team in shape come Friday nights,” said Jehling.
Anyone that has visited with the current athletes probably has heard the term “Sally-up, Sally-down” which is a workout that Jehling has incorporated. It’s a workout to the song that is used for push-ups, squats, and leg workouts. They also do a workout to the famous AC/DC song “Thunderstruck” where the athletes do jumping jacks during the song but have to do up-downs each time they hear the word thunderstruck. Throughout the song, the athletes end up doing around 35 up-downs.
“The kids tell me that they’re never marrying a girl named Sally,” said Jehling jokingly.
He says it’s a true core workout that teaches mental toughness and it allows him to see which kids will have the mental stamina and physical stamina to not quit.
“Who’s going to strive when they’re hurting? That’s what I like to find out,” said Jehling.
In addition to Sally-Up, Sally-Down, and Thunderstruck, the athletes are doing a lot of speed and agility drills, pushing tires, and weight training. Jehling does not have them doing deadlift at all because he says no sport at any moment has an athlete lifting dead weight. He wants everything to be about the explosion.
Jehling says he believes the kids have bought into the program, but wants to make sure the numbers remain past the first two weeks. He says that the week after the Fourth of July is a low attendance, but it picks back up at the end of July as they push towards 2-a-days.
“I’m excited. This time of year is the most exciting time for me because the next sport is football,” said Jehing. “It’s fun for me because I’m getting to see the kids every day and in the afternoon, I’m developing my plan for the season.”
Jehling said the first-week surprises were Sean Lukash and Jarron Ing. LuKash is scheduled to play an outside linebacker and wing back. Ing is an offensive lineman. He was also impressed with Devon Porter, Bryce Krantz, and Spencer Akins.
