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Oriole News is a presentation of Ludington Area School District in partnership with Mason County Press.
By Jeff Kiessel, MCP Contributor
LUDINGTON — “Show Up.” Two simple words Rich Kirby, Ludington High School’s head strength coach/health physical education teacher, tries to get across to his students everyday.
Kirby tells his students the key to greatness is being consistent, showing up and putting in the time.
Kirby, who has been working at Ludington Area School District for the past 32 years, has always dreamed big. His dream for more than three decades has included a health and fitness facility to teach and train students for a lifetime of physical preparedness.
This school year, that dream was realized as LASD opened its Athletic Development Center in its secondary complex.
Kirby was one of the driving forces behind the ADC. He said the facility will aid in preparing all LHS students with the skills necessary to maintain and manage a strong functional foundation that allows them to move well and move strong for life.
“The ADC provides a more efficient space to bring out the athlete in everyone and implement strength programs that are offered before school, during school, and after school for LHS and OJ students during the school year and throughout the summer,” he said.
Kirby offers classes throughout the school day that teach general physical preparedness for a lifetime of fitness.
“We are teaching general physical preparedness to students. The sports specific stuff happens on the basketball court, the tennis court or the football field,” he said. “Those student athletes who go on to the next level (college) will have the lifting skills to fit right into any college program.”
Ludington junior Walt Autrey said having the ADC opens up a lot of opportunities that he would not have otherwise.
“All of this extra room and all of these extra machines are going to open the door for other people that normally would not lift weights to want to lift weights,” Autrey said.
Foreign exchange student Oscar Spikker, of Germany, was lifting with Autrey and has been impressed with the ADC.
“Where I come from, weight rooms are pretty limited and sports are not taken as seriously as here in America,” Spikker said. “To have the opportunity to work out in this facility opens so many doors for me. It has helped me out in all the sports I have played (football and golf while in Ludington). I am grateful to be able to use this facility.”
Sophomore Natelie Brandel, who is taking Kirby’s strength and conditioning class, said the space available for the students along with the wall length mirror are big advantages.
“The mirror is helpful to be able to watch our form,” she said. “Having more racks allows us to get our workouts done faster.”
Kirby said some of the benefits students can get from simply showing up and being consistent include a low risk of injury. Increased power development, increased resting metabolism, increased flexibility, increased bone density and increased self esteem strength.
“I believe strength training is the most important thing a person can do to assist in chasing any athletic dreams they may have. So much good can come from just a little consistent time in our ADC.”
Kirby said the strength training is being implemented in the O.J. DeJonge Middle School P.E. curriculum beginning next trimester.
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