“All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty,” Proverbs 14:23.
Yes, you may have heard a Cadet male who makes a futile attempt to convince his friends that he can bench press an unbelievable amount of weight. In unbelieving riposte, “Prove it” comes from someone listening. So off they go to the weight room to find out the truth. Wait a minute! Does Concordia have a weight room? Yes. Concordia does have a weight room.
Concordia’s weight room is located on the ground level, on the west end of the activities wing, down the hall from the main gym. Student can use the weight room by taking the elective weight lifting class that is offered each semester to ALL male and female students beginning during the sophomore year, as long as they have fulfilled the physical education requirement. Students can take the class as often as they want. All student-athletes are strongly encouraged to take the class year round, however students who are not involved in sports may sign up too.
During this current semester there are 52 hard working students, 51 males and 1 courageous female. They are making significant strength profit by training 3 periods a week. Over the past 5 years there has been over a 60% increase in the number of students enrolling in the weight lifting class. The class is based upon improving personal strength throughout the semester. There is absolutely no strength pre-requisite to take the class. All are welcome regardless of where your strength level is at the beginning. “It’s not where you start but where you finish.” The not-so-secret truth is that new comers to the class almost always get an “A” because they make the greatest strength gains from the beginning to the end of the semester.
The weight room is heavily used after school and during the summer as well. Members of the following teams strength train both in the off-season and in-season: football, boys basketball, baseball, wrestling, swimming and diving, cross country and track and field. I am excited to announce that the girl’s softball team is the latest to jump on board and use the strength they develop to gain confidence, reduce the chance of injury, improve performance and bond through hard work.
It is one thing to talk about how strong you may be but the true profit is with the person who works hard.
Mark Koehlinger,
P.E. and Health Teacher
Photo is of junior Christian Lucas lifting 410 lbs., and he weighs 157 lbs.