Not too tired to practice

Braden River High's football players are making a statement one tire at a time.

Deqwunn McCobb, a 300-pound senior lineman, has sweat pouring down his face as he sizes up the 500-pound tractor tire that will soon hover above his head. 

McCobb nods to his teammates Taylor Upshaw, Deshaun Fenwick and AJ Kwiatkowski and together the four Pirates squat down, grip the tire and slowly press it up into the blazing summer sun. 

The four players will repeat the same process a total of 10 times before coach Curt Bradley signals the next task. The tire press is part of a series of conditioning drills McCobb and his fellow linemen will complete over the next hour as part of their offseason workout program. 

With temperatures surpassing 90 degrees by mid-morning, the task proved to be nothing short of exhausting, especially given the fact the players had just completed an hourlong weight training session some 15 minutes prior. 

It may seem like a daunting way to spend summer vacation, but McCobb and his teammates aren’t concerned with their inability to sleep in. 

After all, the Pirates know successful seasons aren't put together overnight. Their amount of work during the offseason ultimately will determine their fate. 

“It’s tough, but it makes you mentally and physically better,” said McCobb, who hasn’t missed a workout so far this summer. “It prepares you for the fourth quarter when you’re tired and hurting.” 

Across town on June 30, Lakewood Ranch High players lined up for a game of 7 on 7 against Southeast. As part of their offseason program, the Mustangs will participate in four 7 on 7 games throughout the summer in addition to their weight training sessions four days a week. 

Both football teams began work shortly after the school year ended June 9. Lakewood Ranch gave its players the first week of summer off while the Pirates weren’t in session this past week for the Fourth of July holiday. 

“That’s their summer vacation,” Lakewood Ranch coach Mick Koczersut said. 

“If you work hard now, it’ll pay off later,” Lakewood Ranch senior defensive back Chris Hadley said. 

While not every practice is mandatory, the coaches on both teams have seen their players step up and take responsibility for their own progress. In some cases, players have even passed up family vacations, staying with fellow teammates, so they can attend practice. 

“The longer they are in the program, the more they understand they can’t miss,” Bradley said. “We have a lot of guys who refuse to miss practice. It’s hard to be here every day, but it ends up being worth it at the end of the day, knowing the strides they are making in the summer.” 

Coming off its second-consecutive perfect regular season and a state semifinal appearance, the Pirates’ summer program consists of a hour of weight training followed by an hour of on-field conditioning five days a week. Players are divided into four groups based on team and position. 

Similar to the Pirates, the Mustangs train four mornings a week from 9 to 11:30 a.m. with the first half dedicated to lifting and the second half to conditioning. 

Braden River and Lakewood Ranch coaches spend ample time creating a summer program the players also will enjoy. Pull ups, free weights, crunches, running and tire flips are just some of the stations the players will rotate through on any given day. 

“We’re trying to make it at intense as we can make it,” Lakewood Ranch senior lineman Sam Jackson said. “It’s all about making (strides) for the fall, finishing and being a team.”

Teammate Dylan Townson agreed. 

“We’re no longer focused on just surviving,” Townson said. “We’re trying to make it about attacking, doing our best and exceeding expectations.” 

At Braden River, tire tug of war has become one of the Pirates' favorite drills while the jog, sprint, jog drill has become a staple for the Mustangs. The Pirates also have been known to hold friendly competitions between position groups for free Slurpees from 7-11. 

“These kids love to compete,” Bradley said. “You need to keep them engaged and find ways to coach some effort out of them.”

Summer workouts are unique in that players, coaches and footballs can’t all be utilized at the same time by rule, with the exception of 7 on 7 tournaments. 

In addition to its standard summer workout routine, Lakewood Ranch also will be heading up to Western Carolina University for its annual team camp for four days in late July. 

The camp affords the Mustangs the opportunity to practice alongside teams they won’t see during the regular season while also serving as a team bonding experience. During the two days Lakewood Ranch is in North Carolina, the Mustangs will attend three practices with the first one scheduled for 6 a.m. and the last one slated for 7 p.m. 

“It’s a lot of work for the kids,” Koczersut said. “It’s also an experience a lot of these kids may never get (outside football). Some of these kids have never seen mountains before, so it’s neat to be able to see them enjoy that.”