Newaygo Athletes Speed Through Summer

Newaygo Athletes Speed Through Summer
By Alexis Mercer

Nothing screams summer like a day at the beach, relaxing with friends, followed by a pizza dinner and ice cream to top it off.

Maybe that’s how the 50 Newaygo athletes spend their summer days, but not until after their 8:00 am speed and agility workouts every Monday and Wednesday all summer long with Truss and Johnson Training.

Courtney Truss and Tyler Johnson are recent graduates from Aquinas College. Both were All-Americans in Track and Field. Tyler specialized in the 400 while Courtney ran short sprints, including 100, 200 and 400. They graduated with degrees in Exercise Science (with business and coaching as well) and started their own business together: Truss and Johnson Training.

Scott VanEssen, Newaygo’s Athletic Director and Varsity Football Coach, contacted and then worked with Truss and Johnson to have them come to Newaygo every Monday and Wednesday morning from 8-9 am to work with any Newaygo athletes who were interested in bettering their speed and agility.

Athletes from every sport at Newaygo and all grades at the high school, with some brave middle school students jumping in too, were represented the very first week. Participation only grew after the first session when those present spread the word about what they had done.

Each session Truss and Johnson would follow an outline beginning with warm-ups, move to mobility and dynamics, followed by a speed warmup, speed and agility workout, followed by plyometrics and then deep stretching to finish. Every workout varied in activities, keeping the days fresh and exciting for the athletes.

This opportunity to learn from experts in the field was not wasted by Newaygo athletes. While teenagers may have a reputation for staying up late and sleeping in past noon, these Newaygo athletes had nothing to do with living up to that lazy reputation. They showed up, worked hard, got better, and are stronger, faster and more agile for having done so.