Lift, Lift, Relift
Students Tout Dramatic Changes
Championship Training Delivers

By Adrian Rumingan and Slava Kitain (July 11, 2005)

(The past few school years have seen the introduction and expansion of a unique elective course in the Physical Education Department that has been literally changing and improving the physiques and the mental attitude of its participants. Lasso Online takes an in-depth look at Championship Training.)

“Yes, look at them today. Our kids look much more fit and more prepared and they have more pride. This is by far the strongest senior class we’ve had”, said coach Tom Horn regarding the students who have taken Championship Training.

Championship Training was started four years ago to help make Mason students become better fit. The class gives them a great opportunity to work out on their own by setting their own goals.

“It filled the need,” said Horn. “the need for better fit athletes and a healthier student body.”

Weight training has helped Mason athletes perform better on the field.  (Photo by Slava Kitain)	Leg lifts help athletes as well and Championship Training’s inspirational  goal setting also lifts spirits. (Photo by Adrian Rumingan)

“It (enrollment) has gone way up since we started,” said Horn. In the first year that Championship Training was offered, 45 students were in the class and this ballooned to 86 for the first semester this past school year. Last semester over 100 students were expected to join in this rigorous training. When asked about the goals that he sets for his students, Horn replied, “I don’t set goals for the kids they set their own.”

The idea for the class came about through a consideration of both strength training and character development. The class meets in the weight room, which is a small compact area with not much room for about 30 students a class. Each student gets an individual printout of their strengths, and challenges so that they can work out on their own pace. Even though the class is partly for weightlifting, the students also spend serious class time in motivation, discussion, and lectures. The students get together to discuss what they need to do further in their workouts and personal moral values such as setting goals and determining how to achieve them. These class discussions go on for about half the class.

When Mohamed Zohir started the class last year, he lifted 135 pounds on the bench press and 180 pounds for squat. At the completion of the course, he lifted 225 on the bench and 260 on squat. This improvement is not only for boys, girls are lifting as well. Just-graduated senior Lena Griffin started lifting 45 pounds on the bench press, 60 lbs on the squat, and 40 on the dead lift when she was a junior. Now she lifts 70 lbs on the bench, 100 on the squat, and 85 on the dead lift.

Said student Eric Brooks, “Championship training introduced me to new lifting techniques and exercises that, if I had not taken the course, I would be without knowledge of; thus greatly hindering my growth and success as a lifting machine.”

Yet another life has been changed for the better by Championship Training. Junior Eric Blush, who started at quarterback for the Mustangs last football season, used to bench 65 pounds and squat 125 pounds his freshman year at his own weight of 115 pounds. Now Blush benches 225 and squats 310 at his increased weight of 155 pounds.

Asked if he has more confidence in himself and whether he felt more comfortable with his  body, Blush said, “Yes, because I’m stronger and faster in football. I feel great, because I look amazing.” 

Masonites are fortunate because GM is one of the few schools in the area that combines weightlifting and inspiration as an elective course. Students say that they really enjoy the class because is not a “regular” course. Their main homework is meeting their personal goal-setting plans, and spending time to improve their own bodies.

Fallon Norloff said that championship training is going to help her with her life guarding job this summer. When asked how the class has helped her, she said, “Well, I have toned up my arms and abs, also I have lost 10 pounds in my overall weight.” She also said that her confidence was improved by the daily 30-minute pep talk coach Horn gives at the beginning of class. Norloff’s testimony is another good example of how Championship Training can improve someone’s self-esteem. Norloff also said that now, thanks to Championship Training, she runs and exercises on her rowing machine outside of class.

Another student of Championship Training, Zachary Hall, said that he increased his strength and speed and now is able to hold out longer on the field. He also said that his bench has increased by 50 pounds. He now feels stronger and confident. Senior Sam Cho said, “I got my self-esteem back.” He said that this class helped him a lot because he is in the Army (to which he will report in a few months) and is required to stay fit.