GREENVILLE – The strength and conditioning program for football is picking up steam at Harmon Field.

Although the temperatures are not steamy yet, you can rest assured the Green Wave players and coaches will be ready for three-a-days on Aug. 1.

“The strength and conditioning program started June 3 and goes until July 22, said Aaron Shaffer, who is in his fourth year at the helm of the Wave football team. “The workouts are from 7 a.m.-11 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and is open to all athletes, even though most sports have their own training regimen. The athletes must be entering grades seven-12. We have a junior high and high school camp starting July 6, which all the coaches and kids are looking forward to being involved in. We have 10 days of coaching in July that we are allowed to have, and we will take full advantage of this.”

Coach Shaffer is being ably assisted in running the strength and conditioning program by numerous coaches. On the offensive side of the ball for the Wave is quarterbacks coach John Tabler, running backs gurus Luke Rosengarten and Jason Hughes along with the wide receivers led by Steve Lantz. On the defensive side of the ball, the Wave are led by defensive coordinator Adam Eberwein and defensive line coach Eric Hanes along with the defensive backs led by Bart Schmitz.

Certain skills the athletes are working on is the ladder drill and cones, which help with their agility. Also emphasized is plyometrics, which are exercises which involve leaping and jumping in short intervals, which will increase both speed and power. The weight lifting consists of a full body workout, not just one particular area of the body. The athletes work on their lifts three days a week under complete supervision of the weight room coaches.

“We have had an average of 75 kids with hopefully more waves to follow once summer basketball and baseball commitments are finished,” Coach Shaffer said. “We have our first seven-on-seven contest at Tipp on July 9 at 10 a.m. Our next one is at home against Brookville, St. Henry and Twin Valley South at 10 a.m. on the 14th of July and finish up at Celina at 10 a.m. on July 24. We would really like to improve on our 5-5 record last year as injuries really hurt us.”