Weightlifting program paves way for future success of basketball team

Photo courtesy of Brett Hereth Senior Cole Bennett attended the weight training program this year. This year the weight lifting program was planned to be made official in the future.

Four years ago, The King's Academy football coaches began a strength and conditioning program that was started primarily for our football players, but also allowed other student athletes to participate. During this past summer, TKA's Varsity Boys Basketball Coach, Brett Hereth, met with Coach Darin Armour about leading a strength and conditioning session in the fall directed more at our basketball players. 

Throughout the beginning of this past school year, many of TKA’s basketball players tested a weightlifting program to help players in the offseason led by Coach Armour. The weightlifting program. The weightlifting program showed huge amounts of success with the basketball players and was also a way for the team to grow closer to each other and their coaches.

“Our strength increased by 57.5 %,” Strength Coach for men’s basketball Darin Armour said. “Yes, it’s to get stronger, bigger and faster, but it’s also a confidence builder. It’s interesting to see some of the younger guys get confident in what they’re not only doing on the court, but what they do in the weight room. And that’s all dictated by the kind of environment you have in the weight room.”

According to Coach Armour, the team had a starting squat total of 2770 pounds and an ending total of 4116 pounds with a 48.56 % increase in leg strength. The starting bench total was 1210 pounds ending with 1990 pounds, a 64.46% increase in upper body strength. They met Monday, Tuesday and Thursday for weightlifting and practiced agility training on Friday.

“Coach Armour designed a 12 week, basketball specific program to help us develop bigger, stronger and faster athletes,” men’s basketball coach Brett Hereth said. “It consists of strength training as well as speed and agility.”

Coach Armour is new to the basketball team, and his joining as a strength coach made the team able to gain strength through the weightlifting program. 

“It was great welcoming Coach Armour,” junior Ben Carlson said. “He was really encouraging and knowledgeable about a lot of things. Weightlifting helps our teamwork, relationships and for us to get stronger. You make bonds when you're with a bunch of guys working toward one goal and not judging but helping one another.” 

The players not only grew physically, but also grew mentally, spiritually and in their relationships with each other while they worked together.

“It has helped with becoming much stronger on defense, especially when boxing out for a rebound,” junior Jack Stewart said. “It has also really helped with growing closer to the players because we’re with each other three times a week, and we’re all having a great time making memories.”

Players on the basketball team as well as other sports will now have the opportunity to continue to attend workouts.

Beginning on Monday, Nov. 3, The King’s Academy launched its’ official Strength and Conditioning program led by coaches Kevin and Mandi Lora. This program is open to all 6th-12th grade students whether they are participating in the Knights Athletics program or not and all of TKA’s approved Alternatively Educated Students (AES).. 

“I hope that this program continues to grow and helps all of our kids reach their full athletic potential,” Coach Hereth said.