On Tuesday, September 16, the MFS Athletic Department, in partnership with Image Fitness Professionals, facilitated a new Sports Performance Training program.
Announced via schoolwide email on August 5, the program highlights the efforts of the school’s athletic department to enhance the sports program for all students. In the program, students participate in drills and exercises to help elevate their performance in their sports. These drills will help students stay active throughout the offseason and help them prevent injuries.
According to Athletic Director Isaiah Coleman, the Athletic Department is committed to getting students involved with sports and creating a positive sports environment, even when it’s not a student sports season.
“I noticed last year there was a surplus of student athletes who did not compete in the spring season or the winter season, who I just saw sitting around, and not using their time as productively or wisely as they could have,” Coleman said, “I wanted to offer those student athletes who are not competing in season to have an opportunity to train and to get in shape for the next season they will compete in.”
Coleman explained his wish to make off-season training accessible to more students. Also, he explained how the athletic department is trying to make the student athlete experience similar to the experience at more competitive school programs.
“Student athletes want to go to Lenape [High School] or go to Moorestown [High School] where they think they can get that competitive edge, or that elevated experience, which myself and the team are trying to create here,” he said.
Lead Coach Nathaniel Henderson from Image Fitness Professionals said, “We are going to do mobility, flexibility, stability to start off and build from there.”
He continued, “The importance of these workouts is to strengthen the areas in your body that cause the most rigidity because that causes the most injuries. You get stronger, so if you get injured, you can still have a long sports performance time, as well as encourage cognition for the brain.”
Students participating in the Sports Performance Training program have hopes to become better athletes and perform better in their sports season.
Leo Male ’28 attended the program and said, “I wanted to become stronger, I wanted to prepare for the baseball season this spring. I want to become a better overall baseball player and a stronger person. I think it benefits everyone as it doesn’t target any certain sports exercises; it helps people who play all sports.”
Students want to use this program to get into good shape for their upcoming seasons, so they can spend less time doing conditioning and more time developing the skills their team and they need to excel at their sport.
Student athlete and an attendee of the program, Justin Lewis ’26, shared his thoughts on the new program, “It is important because over the summer, some people get out of shape; conditioning is half of playing a sport. If you are out of shape, then you are not going to perform well.”
