Countless laps around the school, never-ending aching of muscles, sit-up after sit-up — all in preparation for the spring sports season.

Men’s volleyball, women’s soccer, softball, baseball, men’s golf, diving, track and field, men’s tennis, STUNT and swimming are all spring sports that have at least a week of conditioning prior to any games, meets, matches or competitions.

Baseball conditioning started at the beginning of January. It is every tuesday through thursday for most players, unless Coach Robert Dorchak beats them in the daily running. Then, they must come the next day for field work.

“We start off the day with a good 15 to 20 minute core workout, then we’ll usually do 10 to 15 minutes working on our arms with bands and rice buckets. Then, we usually go on a 5 to 6 mile run, where we have to beat Coach Dorchak in order to not do field work the following day,” Kellen Anderson said.

Softball conditioning is on the same schedule as baseball, and Sarah Valenzuela is trying out for the softball team.

“Conditioning is really important because it helps us be quicker on the bases and win games more easily. It applies to every position and it helps you get better as a player overall,” Valenzuela said.

Conditioning is intended to help athletes get back into shape from their offseason before trying out for the team, which is beneficial to most athletes that don’t play another sport or work out in the offseason.

“I believe we condition enough [because] we are really sore and tired, but not dead and able to do other things if we’d like to. And you know [conditioning] is working,” James Demetros said.

Demetros is trying out for men’s volleyball this spring, and conditions with the team on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Coaches recommend athletes work out on their own as well as condition on their own in their free time. Multi-athletes get most conditioning done when playing their other sports as well.

Conditioning will continue in the upcoming weeks until the sports season officially starts February 8th. For athletes that want to condition extra, weightlifting is being held before and after school every day.

by AVERY VAN DER LINDEN