Marble Falls’ Forge ’25 drawing more athletes in second year

CAPTION: Erick Flores leads the agility drill during the first day of Forge ’25 June 2. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro

The Marble Falls Independent School District athletic department’s Forge ’25 is off to a tremendous start.

Athletic director Keri Timmerman and strength-and-conditioning coordinator Karl “Beef” Bielfeldt are happy with the number of athletes who are attending and the work they are putting in.

Bielfeldt said 100 seventh- and eighth-graders and 235 athletes in grades 9-12 attended the first week.

“From last year to this year, we’ve seen a big uptick,” he said, adding that coaches were aware of several others who didn’t attend because of vacations, camps or other commitments.

In other words, coaches believe more athletes will join the six-week program before too long.

“We were expecting this,” Timmerman said. “This is what we do. We’re setting expectations for things like that.”

Bielfeldt credits Timmerman and the coaching staff for the improved numbers. It also helps that athletes themselves aren’t shy about telling their teammates of their attendance and encouraging them to come, too, Bielfeldt added. In addition, those who are back have stated putting in this type of work now allows them to have an easier start to fall training, two-a-days or offseason training for sports starting later in the fall.

It also doesn’t hurt that families, business owners and others are doing their part by encouraging the Mustangs and Lady Mustangs to participate, the coordinator added.

“The community is getting behind us in what we’re trying to do with athletes,” he said.

Bielfeldt couldn’t emphasize enough the example the upperclassmen have the chance to set in their sports and the message that sends to the younger athletes.

And he also likes the mix of athletes who are attending. While some are playing football and volleyball, which begin fall training camps and two-a-days in early August, basketball and soccer athletes aren’t taking an easy summer. They’re working out, too.

“I’m encouraged by the participation,” he said.

The program is divided into weight lifting, conditioning and agility. The conditioning can have mat drills, obstacle courses or anything that gets the heart pumping. The agility portion is to help athletes stop, plant, turn then accelerate.

Bielfeldt, who is known for studying different disciplines and methods of training, mixes things up, which keeps the athletes’ attention while also accomplishing what Timmerman and the other head coaches want – a stronger, fitter and faster group of athletes that can take the pounding and physicality that comes in their sports.

The coordinator has worked closely with each head coach in creating programs that prepare the Mustangs and Lady Mustangs perform at their absolute best.

When the summer program started last week, it was the first time the athletes had been in the weight room in about two weeks. That’s because the last week of the school year was finals week then the department took a week off right after graduation.

Bielfeldt eased the athletes back into their training where he balanced it being challenging without being harmful.

“I’m still going to be as smart as possible,” he said.

The program, which is Monday-Thursday, has plenty of room for athletes. The high school sessions are from 7-9 a.m. and middle school sessions are from 9-10:30 a.m. All sessions are at Marble Falls High School.

CAPTION: Emmerson Ramos (left), Payton Dunk, Deliah Guzman and Natalie Nagowski are in the middle of an agility drill. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro