Starting in the Winter of 2023, the athletics department introduced two new programs for varsity student-athletes: Introduction to Strength and Conditioning Training for Juniors and Lowers and Athletic Development Training (ADT) for Uppers, Seniors, and PGs. With 40 total students, the two programs take place between 3:15 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. However, the Borden Memorial Gym Fitness Center is not available to the rest of Andover community to use during the hours, raising concern from some student athletes and recreational gym users.
According to Lisa Joel, Director of Athletics, there has been a lack of targeted strength and conditioning training for Andover students. With the high demand of such programs, the athletic department collaborated with certified strength and conditioning coaches, Christopher Collins and Andres Perez, on these offerings to prepare athletes in their offseason.
“One aspect of explicit programming, that Andover is falling short of peer schools… [like] Choate, [Phillips] Exeter [Academy], Deerfield, is that we did not have specific strength and conditioning programming and training for kids who wanted it most… We understood that actually was a need being requested of us in the athletic department… and we thought this would be perfect,” said Joel.
On December 6, 47 Captains took a stand with Indoor Track and Field Co-Captain Audrey Powers ’24, sending an email to the Andover Athletic Department to state their concerns about the restricted Fitness Center hours. The Captains argued that the new athletics options would exclude “students involved in community engagement, extracurricular clubs, and the performing arts,” who cannot use the Fitness Center hours after 5:30 p.m.
Powers said, “I have just been approached by so many people with their grievances about this program. And as someone who is involved in high-level, competitive athletics, I completely see the benefits to the program, but so far all I have been hearing from students is complaints about it… I am trying to find some kind of solution where this program can be appreciated and accepted and continue in the curriculum without getting the same amount of student push back it has been.”
Santi Gracias ’25 shared similar sentiments to the Captains. Due to limited facility spaces in the winter, many winter interscholastic sports, like swim and basketball, also hold practices after 5:30 p.m., preventing those athletes from using the Fitness after the conclusion of ADT.
“[The Fitness Center] was pretty available previously, a little bit less now… I know that a lot of people said that they couldn’t go in the Winter now because they had their sport at 5:30 p.m. or after that or they had to go to a club meeting, so they are not able to go to the gym,” said Gracias.
Some students in the ADT program countered the Captains with their own email to the Athletic Department, reiterating the fact that the ADT has been a sought-after program. However, Joel explained that the new program can only cater to the needs of a small cohort of students.
Joel said, “It has to be limited, like your math class is limited, a soccer team is limited… We have gone right up to the maximum number of kids it can be so that kids can actually get and meet the goal of the program.”
Collins emphasized that these programs not only facilitate the mastery of new exercises and movements, but also instills confidence into those using the gym. For example, Introduction to Strength and Conditioning helps younger students gain increased comfort with workout equipment and programs.
“The basic premise behind [Introduction to Strength and Conditioning] is to have the kids come into the Fitness Center, learn some basic lifts, some basic movement patterns, and try to do that in an environment that has a conducive learning experience…so that in the future when they come into the Fitness Center, they can feel confident and secure about things they’re doing, be comfortable when they come in here when it is crowded, and have a basic understanding of how we’re trying to develop things,” said Collins.
According to Angie Ceballos ’25, a participant of ADT, the program has helped her develop her strength and agility and navigate new workout programs. She explained that ADT is helping her progress towards her goal to play softball in college.
“I am personally looking to pursue college athletics so it is very important that I develop my athleticism and strength during the winter specifically, so that is why I was interested in ADT. And I also wanted to get more comfortable with different types of workouts that I am not particularly used to or know of… I think that the trainers give you all the tools, so [ADT] is definitely beneficial.”
Following the Captains’ complaints, the Fitness Center has extended its morning hours on weekdays. Trained Captains will now be opening the gym at 6:05 a.m., and Joel encourages athletes to take advantage of this time.
“Working out in the morning on the shoulders of your schedule is, in my mind, that’s what it means to be an athlete. That’s what it means to be a competitive athlete. And so at some level, it might feel inconvenient for some. But it’s probably not a bad schedule to be adapting to because it’s really how it works out for competitive athletes,” said Joel.
Joel also invites students to hold open conversations about their goals regarding strength and fitness, despite the gym restrictions.
“It’s about prioritizing and making choices. And right now, for some of our students, I get it. They had what may have been their patterns, in their minds, when they feel is most convenient to them. But I truly believe, and we’ve invited any of these students, if they want to sit with us and talk about what their goals are. Talk about when the facility might be open, where they can be supported. They should come and talk to us because I’m very confident that not only we can help them think through a strength and conditioning program, but think through when they can go and get that done,” said Joel.
