Student-athletes at Eastern Montgomery High School will benefit from an expanded weight room and workout facility. Workers were busy Monday laying a concrete floor in a room that will almost double the school’s weight room.
Eastern Montgomery football coach Jordan Stewart is looking to make his players a little stronger this season with the expansion of the school’s weight room. He has taken the philosophy of build it and they will come.
Earlier this week, contractors were moving equipment into the high school’s gymnasium to allow for a concrete floor to be poured in the 1,500 sq. ft. space, almost doubling the current weight room.
Football coach Jordan Stewart believes his program is finally getting something that will help them to turn the corner in wins and losses.
“We received $39,000 for new equipment through the athletic booster club and the general athletic budget. I am excited. The players are excited. It (the new weight room) will benefit the whole athletic program,” he said.
The football program is already seeing some excitement with a large contingent of players attending off-season workouts.
Stewart said he will have the strongest team since 2010. “It’s definitely the strongest since I’ve been here,” he said.
Already five players are in the 1,000-pound club and one at the 1,200 mark.
“We’re probably going into the season with a dozen players in the 1,000 pound club. The players are buying into what we want to do and weight lifting is a big part of it. This attitude and strength program should play off this season,” Stewart said.
In addition to a better workout area, Stewart is optimistic about the upcoming season as he only lost four seniors from last year’s squad including two starters.
Last year’s quarterback Wyatt Freeman has transferred to Narrows, but the cupboard is not bare. “We return nine others on offense, which will give us a nucleus to work with,” Stewart said.
The Mustangs also move from the Three Rivers District to the Pioneers District that includes: Craig County, Covington, Parry McCluer, Narrows and Bath County.
“We should be competitive this year and have a chance to win each game this year,” Stewart said.
The team will have new white jerseys to unveil at home this season, which Stewart said is another way to excite his players.
Eastern Montgomery opens the 2017 season August 25 at Holston.
