By Don Julian
This year marks the 15th year Wildcats Head Football Coach Greg Owens has had The Edge conditioning program during the summer. This year’s program, which opened Monday, June 8, at the Multipurpose Building, looked quite different in this age of the coronavirus.
Some 45 incoming 11th and 12th graders were in attendance for the day’s first session that ran from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m.
The Edge featured temperature checks, distancing, wiping down of weight equipment and lots of hand sanitizer stations. Players had to bring their own water and no one was allowed to drink from the facility’s water fountains.
After temperature checks before entering, the players who were spaced out 5 yards apart, heard a 15 minute discussion of safety protocol from Coach Owens. Then, players were sent into small groups to work with assistant coaches.
Halfway through the first session, Coach Owens noted things were a little different. He said it was great seeing the kids again, who he said were excited to be there. They were so anxious, quite a few arrived well before the 8 a.m. start time.
Coach Owens said he could see some players begin to drag a little bit after the first hour. He chalked some of that up to anxiety. Coach Owens said the coaches are taking things slowly.
In opening comments, Coach Owens told the players the goal is not necessarily to work out in June, but to try to get to August so they can play some football in the fall.
The weather fully cooperated early with cloudy skies, which kept the temperature down inside the Multipurpose Building.
The Edge includes not just conditioning, agility and weight lifting, but also has a UIL approved 1- hour a day of specific sport skills. The Wildcats are trying to make up for lost time after having no spring football drills due to the virus pandemic.
Later sessions Monday took place for incoming 9th and 10th graders from 10 a.m. until noon and for incoming 7th and 8th graders from noon until 1:30 p.m.
The Edge was also going on for other sports.
Wildcats Basketball was at the main High School Gym with entering 10th through 12th graders involved from 8 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. and incoming Middle School through 9th graders participating from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.
The Edge for Football and Wildcats Basketball will take place Monday through Friday until the end of July. Lady Cats Basketball and Volleyball are scheduled at the two Middle School Gyms. Incoming high schoolers will have The Edge from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. Incoming 7th and 8th graders will be involved from 10 a.m. until noon.
Wildcats and Lady Cats Cross Country runners will have The Edge at Gerald Prim Stadium. Hours will be 7:15 a.m. until 8:30 a.m.
Girls basketball and volleyball and cross country will take place Monday through Thursday.
Tennis for incoming 7th through 12th graders is scheduled Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. with an additional session Tuesday morning from 9 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. The site will be at the Wildcat Tennis Center.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Click here for more Wildcat and Lady Cat Sports
