Burnet Lady Dawgs don’t tire of preparing for what’s coming

CAPTION: Riley Roberts is in the midst of her incline bench presses as spotter Emery Zeigler stands ready to help. Staff photos by Jennifer Fierro

The Burnet High School Lady Dawgs have plenty to be proud of in June, according to their athletic coordinator and coaches.

The Lady Dawgs have been arriving to the Student Activity Center right after the sun rises to begin strength-and-conditioning training. They hit the weight room first, go to the artificial turf for agility and speed workouts, then head to The Doghouse for sport-specific skills training in either volleyball or basketball. After that, they play in pick-up games and have a little fun.

“They’re not leaving until 10:30 (a.m.),” girls basketball head coach Kim Payten said. “They’re putting in the work. I’m lucky my basketball girls are showing up and (volleyball head coach Crystal) Shipley is lucky, too, cause her kids are showing up.”

And they’re leaving tired because they’ve given maximum effort throughout every drill and session, Payten said. That’s because of the way the summer strength-and-conditioning program is designed.

While the lifting sessions aren’t new, there’s a pace and a rhythm to them. Athletes are given so many minutes to complete a rep and they move briskly to the next rack or lift. By moving quickly, they are getting some conditioning in. At about the time the Bulldogs arrive, the Lady Dawgs are exiting to the artificial turf where coaches have set up mini trampolines, boxes, speed ladders and cones. The Lady Dawgs divide into four groups and a coach illustrates what they are to do at each station. And just like the weight room, there is no standing around. Coaches want a quick pace and rhythm to each drill, emphasizing every minute counts.

Shipley, who also serves as girls athletic coordinator, said attendance to strength and conditioning is one of the many positives she’s witnessed.

“We have kept our numbers higher than I have seen in the past seven years,” she said. “I am very proud of so many of our kids for showing up and working hard each week. They choose to get up and come put in work at 7 a.m. during their summer. I am proud of our coaching staff for buying in, making these workouts a priority and putting in work as well. This is only the beginning of seeing a major turn for our girls’ athletic program.”

Girls basketball head coach Kim Payten was equally enthusiastic about her players.

“I’ve just been floored at the amount of kids that are just showing up every day cause they’re showing up every single day, and they’re getting better,” she said. “Especially these younger kids. I can’t express how proud I am to be the Burnet coach, and I am.”

Shipley said attendance to summer strength and conditioning remains vital. The Lady Dawgs are taking a week off and will resume workouts Monday, July 6.

“For those athletes that start their season on Aug. 1, they better be doing something in July because Aug. 1 comes faster every year,” she said. “If they don’t get acclimated to the workouts and aren’t ‘in-shape,’ it will show and those who have been working all summer will be a step ahead because they have prepared their bodies for those practices and games.” 

CAPTION: Braelyn Smith completes a turn of jumping boxes as Lexi Clark follows.