Scott Smith wants to promote competition within his Warren County High School football program. He’s starting with their work in the weight room.
The Pioneers are averaging over 50 athletes during workouts, while over 40 upcoming freshmen have shown up each Friday to get accustomed to the strength and conditioning program Smith is installing. With a growing number of athletes showing up, coach Smith has split his Pioneers into red and blue teams to get the most out of workouts.
Several standouts have emerged in the first month as Bryson Lewis, Tristan Reish, Bryson Cope, Cade Carlson, Ethan Stuart and Brendon Breedlove have each been named lifters of the week for their respective squads. Stuart also was the first Pioneer to join the 900-pound club, which factors in the athlete’s max weights in the power clean, squat and bench press.
Stuart currently leads the team with a max bench press of 275 pounds. The soon-to-be sophomore lineman is one of 19 Pioneers who bench pressed over 200 pounds. Dakota Watson is pushing Stuart for the team lead with a max of 270 pounds while Tristan Reish is at 265 pounds and Krojhn Calbert lifted 260 pounds.
Brock Watson, another potential impact lineman for the Pioneers, took an early lead in power clean when he lifted 230 pounds. Rickie King, a junior defensive back, was next at 225 pounds while Lewis, Stuart and Calbert lifted 215 pounds. Stuart broke the 900-pound mark when he put up a max squat of 415 pounds.
In speed testing, King posted the team’s fastest time in the 40-yard dash. King completed the run in 4.6 seconds, barely besting the 4.66 marks of Quandre Knowles and Lewis ran.
Coach Smith is hopeful the numbers keep going up as the team prepares for spring practice, which will begin Monday, April 21. Smith recently made an addition to his staff, announcing WCHS softball coach David Upton will be joining to football team in the fall and will be helping the freshman team.