Summer workouts - Cats get ready for camp

"Members of the WCU football team have been preparing for the upcoming season since January," said Jeff Pitman, the Strength and Conditioning Coordinator at Western.  "Since the end of the spring semester, turnout (for voluntary workouts) has been great as we have had close to 70 players participate." Currently fifty-five football student-athletes are enrolled and taking classes the second semester of summer school while taking advantage of the voluntary workout program with Pitman.

This summer, those participating in the program under the supervision of Pitman, have been running and lifting four days a week.  The running is at 5:45 am to avoid the summer heat and humidity, as well as allow the student athletes plenty of time to get to morning classes.  According to Pitman, on Mondays the skill players work on linear speed, and the linemen work on strong man drills, with boxing mixed in the training.  On Tuesday and Thursday's voluntary workouts, drills include running together, and change of direction drills, while Friday's are reserved for as overall conditioning days.

During these voluntary workouts, the players are lifting four days a week going through a full body routine daily.  "We incorporate Olympic lifting, power lifting and body building drills to develop explosiveness and strength with injury prevention in mind," Pitman noted.

Students-athletes not already in Cullowhee report to campus on Tuesday, Aug. 2d and official practice starts on Wednesday, August 3d.   The Catamounts will hold open practices 3 - 7 August.