This summer, the Montezuma-Cortez High School athletics program will host an athletic development program for incoming high school freshman through incoming seniors.
This program, which started Monday, June 3, is a “strength conditioning course” to help student athletes stay fit over the summer and prepare for their fall and winter sports.
“The point of it is to get everyone more committed and familiar with using a weight room and other aspects,” said program coach Mitch Taffe. “My point is to try and just build kids from the ground up if they need it. How do we get them to the next level as best as possible?”
Taffe noted that some athletes might be beginners and that all skill levels are welcome.
“I’ll be focusing on the new kids and making sure they develop good form and making sure the older kids are keeping good form and pushing themselves like they should. We’re going to focus on biometrics, so a lot of explosive running and agility exercises.”
MCHS physical education teacher and program coach Jarrett Watkins added that students who aren’t student athletes are also welcome to join.
“All of our kids that go to the high school are welcome, even incoming freshman who just want to get stronger, faster and have a place to go during the summer with good mentors,” Watkins said.
Taffe said they will also be working on weight room exercises as well, with balance and flexibility work mixed in.
“That helps keep their body guessing and helps their body adapt further to stress and any kind of curve balls that sports will throw at you, and the whole point of that being that they can hopefully reduce the risk of injury and become better,” Taffe said.
While the program has already started, Taffe emphasized that student athletes are welcome to attend.
“As long as you get in the door and work hard, it doesn’t matter to me when you start,” Taffe said.
The program ends Aug. 1 in anticipation of the start of the 2024-2025 school year.
Athletes may participate Monday through Thursday and can choose a time – 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. or 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Taffe said he hopes the program can help build athletes’ commitment and drive.
“If we can change that mindset and get them to turn it into a habit and love lifting and see the results that come from both getting in shape and feeling about yourself, it translates to playing better in whatever sport they’re in,” he said.
Fifty athletes participated in the previous program.
Those with questions can contact Taffe at mtaffe@cortez.k12.co.us or Watkins at jwatkins@cortez.k12.co.us.
Taffe’s position of athletic trainer, which he’d held since 2019, was cut around a month ago. Both Taffe and Watkins lamented the loss of the position, noting that it’s difficult for coaches to fill an athletic trainer’s shoes.
For example, an athletic trainer can provide emergency care in the event of an injury such as a concussion.
Watkins shared that he had gone to the school board and district leadership to explain the need for an athletic trainer and the position continued for a short time before it was dropped at the end of this year.
“He’s such a good guy and a great athletic trainer,” Watkins said. “He’s worked for the (New Orleans) Saints. He’s worked for the Buffalo Bills, and he’s one of the best athletic trainers in the state and we’re about to lose him.”
