Summer workouts set tone for two-a-days

GONZALES — While most kids were out enjoying their summer vacation, many Apache athletes have took to the weight room throughout the summer to ready themselves for another school year of athletics. This past week of workouts was the last before two-a-days begin Monday morning.

“It’s been really good this summer, especially this week, the week leading up to two-a-days,” Gonzales Athletic Director Kodi Crane said. “We usually have two sessions, one in the morning and in the evening, and this week since we have little kids camp, we forced them all to come in the evening. We have 93 out here right now going to work and it’s a really good turnout, we’re proud of them and they’re doing outstanding.”

Interesting enough, many of the athletes from Wednesday’s session wore their football camp t-shirts from earlier in the morning, indicating it was their second time around the facilities that day.

“Those kids have done two-a-days all week,” Crane noted. “They come work out a three-hour workout in the morning. They come, flip around and do this. And this is no joke. They’re working hard.”

The dedication shown by those younger athletes hasn’t gone unnoticed by the football staff. These summer workouts have been encouraged. There are many motivational signs in the fieldhouse, including one near the large mirror that says “The weight room isn’t for everyone. But then again, so isn’t playing time.”

Meanwhile, high school athletes who have been training throughout the summer have also put their time in volunteering their services to youth camps.

“We have a lot of older kids as well come out and help those little kids out in the hot sun and then go back [evening workouts],” Crane said. “We told our seniors the other day, ‘if you want to be great, then win a lot of football games. If you want to be a legend, win a lot of football games and teach these young kids.’ Because whenever they’re going get up here, they’re going to remember what ‘Bull’ [Juan Licea], Colby Cox and Corey Anzaldua and all those guys said for them to do. Their legacy will go on forever by getting these guys and teaching them what Apaches are after.”

Now that summer workouts are over, these athletes have a leg up on anyone who is coming to two-a-days out of shape.

Monday is the beginning of two-a-days for high school athletes. For seniors, juniors and sophomores, players are expected at the fieldhouse by 6 a.m. Practice starts on the field at 7 a.m. and ends around 11 a.m., according to Crane. Freshmen are expected at 10 a.m. and will practice from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

“If they are still going to be in junior high, they don’t start until the first day of school,” Crane announced, “but we’ll have open weight room for those junior high kids at 4 p.m. so they don’t lose what they’ve gain through the summer.”

It’s August. Football is back.