Building Blocks: Off-season Program Preparing Simley Athletes for the Future

Simley High School assistant football coach Zach Danielson was full of words of encouragement—and motivation—on Friday morning.

"Dig dig dig. Work hard. Don't hold back. Push yourself," Danielson told a group of about 15 Simley football players, who were running through speed drills as part of the 2011 Spartan All-Sport Strength and Conditioning program.

The eight-week program runs Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Simley High School and includes about 90 middle school and high school athletes who are working to gain strength, speed and power and improve conditioning and endurance. Both boys and girls are participating in the program.

The staff includes Rex King, head Simley football coach and program director; Danielson, a former Bethel University football player; Brandon Jonker, a 2007 Simley graduate and former Augsburg and Gustavus Adolphus College football player; and Natalie Walseth, a Simley graduate and current University of South Dakota volleyball player.

Danielson said the goal of the program is to instill a team-oriented concept while working hard to improve students' athletic ability, no matter the sport you play.

"The biggest thing we're trying to do is to bring everyone together," said Danielson, who has a bachelor's degree in exercise science. "We want to get individuals in the best shape as possible so they can have the best chance for success no matter what sport they participate in. But we want to do it focusing around the team aspect. We all have to help each other, work together and push each other."

Jonker, who also has a bachelor's degree in exercise science, has come back each summer since high school graduation to help lead the program. As a former high school and college athlete he knows how important off-season workouts are to in-season success.

"Now is the time to get better," said Jonker. "The hard work you put in during the offseason will show during the season."

King, who is in his first year leading the Spartans football program, said he is fortunate to have Danielson and Jonker on staff.

"They really bring a lot of knowledge and enthusiasm," said King. "They really know how to get these guys in shape."

It’s hard to say what these athletes will accomplish next year or the coming years, but there’s no doubt that they are working hard. Danielson pushed the football players to be their best on the field, while Jonker lead a group of middle school girls through a weight training session on Friday. Each day the workouts vary.

While the wrestling team has been consistently successful at Simley, Jonker said they want to instill a winning mentality— like the wrestling program has—in all boys and girls athletes across the sporting spectrum.

"Those guys on the wrestling team, they are a team, they really know how to accomplish things," said Jonker. "We want all our athletes to experience success and we want them to push each other. If you're tired, don't hang on a locker. Hang on a friend. Support each other, be there for each other. We're building that mentality and we're building for the future right now."