It’s a quiet time in athletics at Blue Mountain, as we are between seasons.  In an effort to stay in shape between soccer and basketball, the student-athletes have a few options. These include: Open Gym, conditioning camp, and working out on your own. 

Open Gym is a way for high school students interested in basketball to: get together, be active, learn skills, and have a fun time. Unlike organized sports, there are no coaches at the Open Gym; this is run entirely by students. 

Different students use Open Gym for different purposes. Kason Blood uses Open Gym “to get in shape and to get ready for this upcoming basketball season.”  A typical session at the boy’s Open Gym usually consist of a shootaround to start, ball handling, 3 line layups, 11 man, and then for the rest of the time, they split into 5 man teams and play pick up games to 11. For the girls, Open Gym consists of stretching, ball handling, free throws, 3 line layups, 11 man fastbreak,105 shooting, and full court shooting/layups.

Conditioning Camp with Mrs. Lund is a way “to prepare athletes for the upcoming sports season. This is a great opportunity to work on body mechanics, agility training, weight lifting, and body weight training.” Mrs. Lund offers modifications to meet the needs of all athletes. She will be offering this opportunity through November.

Student-athletes can also choose to simply work out on their own.  Seniors Will Emerson and Kason Blood participate in Open Gym, the Conditioning Camps, while also doing their own personal workouts. Emerson explained that “working out on my own makes me feel like `I’m getting both physically and mentally ready for basketball season.”

Any high schooler, not just basketball players, are welcome to participate in Open Gym. For the boys, it runs every Wednesday from 2:30-4:00, and for the girls, it is every Tuesday and Thursday from 2:30-4:00. Anyone is welcome to attend Conditioning Camp: M-F from 2:30-3:30 in the library.