The Wildcats have been diligent about getting in the weight room this summer to get in better shape and well-conditioned for the long grind of the season and the physical wear and tear of playing at least nine games.

“This is the time to put up big numbers in the weight room and the kids who are here are making the most of it,” Alpena assistant coach Trevor Roznowski said. “(The workouts are) essential. This is the time of year to be building your strength, building your base for what’s going to carry you through not only the entire football season but, if you’re a multi-sport athlete, the entire year.”

In previous years, the team has used summer workouts to focus on getting bigger, faster, and stronger. While that’s still a goal this year, the team is working on velocity-based training — training built around improving speed and power. Rather than focusing on how much weight an athlete can lift, velocity-based training focuses on the speed at which athletes are lifting, to improve technique and increase the intensity of workouts.

Since most football plays last a few seconds, the workouts — from deadlifts to power cleans to curls, and more — are aimed at making the Wildcats as quick and as explosive as possible during those plays.

News Photo by James Andersen A sign — one of many posted around the Alpena High School weight room — serves as both a reminder and as motivation for players who are putting workout time in this summer.

For athletes like Brady Carlson, summer workouts are essential. As an offensive lineman, Carlson is always on his feet and always moving so being in peak shape is important and he said the velocity training has been helpful so far this summer.

“I find it a little bit better for me,” Carlson said. “It’s nice to do something a little bit different. Once you start your season, you’re not lifting for strength, you’re lifting to maintain. The better in shape you are now, the easier it is, that’s just the simplest way to put it.”

Alpena head coach Eric Mitchell said nearly the entire program has been coming in several days a week. The weight room is open twice a day — in the morning and in the afternoon — so players are able to fit workouts in around their summer schedules.

With a focus on making the most of workout time under the new velocity-based training, players are able to complete their workouts quicker. At times last season, the Wildcats found themselves out-conditioned by their opponents, and Mitchell wants to make sure his players are ready to go when the season starts.

“It is the foundation, without a doubt,” Mitchell said. “It starts the day after football season ends and you just can’t take a break in the summer. “The whole idea is you get the bar moving at a certain rate, depending on how many reps and how many sets you’re doing. We want the bar moving quick.”

News Photo by James Andersen Joe Schuch does a power clean during a morning workout in the Alpena High School weight room last week.

The workouts the Wildcats put in now during the dog days of summer not only helps make them better conditioned when practices and games begin next month, it also helps strengthen team bonds and chemistry.

This is a really good time for team bonding. Working in groups during the summer, this is where we knew putting the time in would really pay off. By the time the season hits, it’s full speed ahead, working on technique, working on plays and other things.

Alpena opens the season on Aug. 24 at home against Flint Powers.

News Photo by James Andersen Racks of dumbbells are seen in the Alpena High School weight room during a recent morning workout.

News Photo by James Andersen Brady Carlson lifts weights during a morning workout in the Alpena High School weight room last week.