Llano athletes putting in early morning work for fall success
JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF
LLANO — The Llano High School weight room is a busy place early in the morning.
As many as 75 athletes of the Llano High School boys athletic department have been there at 7 a.m. this summer, according to athletic director and head football coach Craig Slaughter.
The Lady Jackets follow at 8 a.m. with the boys who missed the first session making an appearance at 9 a.m.
“The big thing is it’s non stop,” Slaughter said. “It’s a nonstop, year-around athletic department.”
And it has to be, he said.
Being in shape by the start of two-a-days Aug. 5 helps keep players on the field and away from the trainers room, the coach said.
“Injury prevention is big,” he said. “Kids who haven’t made the most of their summer, they pull something and miss time. Those first four or five days is big time evaluation for us. That’s a really, really bad spot.”
The Llano skipper added that players in athletic programs in District 8-3A are participating in weight-and-conditioning programs of their own.
Athletes in Burnet and Lampasas are in six-week programs led by Speed Killz Period out of Leander.
Reports out of Brownwood indicate the Lions are using their weight room from early in the morning until late in the afternoon.
“Athletes can’t be sitting on their butts for 45 days,” Slaughter said. “We need to be improved and ready to play at a high level. Everybody is doing it. If you’re not, you’re falling behind. Everybody is working hard on it.”
jfierro@thepicayune.com