was in middle school. “I knew that I needed to
get bigger to play football and I didn’t have much
experience in weightlifting. This class was perfect
to get me started and has been really convenient
because I don’t have that much time after school.”
Athletes from the class have gone on to not only
play sports but can be found in every single branch
of the armed forces. “We have had athletes from
this class score the highest in the PT (physical
training) scores in their basic training classes, as
well as athletes come back from big programs and
say ‘I was the only freshman able to go straight
into weightlifting with the older guys because I
already understood and performed all the lifts
correctly,’” says Struck. “I’ve had college coaches
ask what we do and send them videos on what
we are doing, but it’s hard to capture unless
you are here.”
However, unlike most weightlifting classes in
high school, Jeff Sports Performance is about far
more than just lifting weights.
“One of the things that sets this class apart is
how we work on the entire person,” says Struck.
“The weightlifting or sport is what we have in
common, but we come together to try and create
better futures for the kids.”
Every nine weeks, students are required to
write three colleges – that makes 12 colleges per
year with a total of more than 48 colleges over
four years. “Most kids write more, though,” says
Struck, “and it works. That’s one of the biggest
the best person they can be. In a society where
high school students are prone to determine self-
worth by the number of likes they get on social
media, Jeff Sports Performance has been a big
confidence booster to many students.
Struck keeps track of every student’s personal
weight-lifting goals. “I work hard to make sure they
reach their goals, and I’ll push them. We make
a big deal when they get it. It’s really cool to see
when a kid reaches their max. Their confidence
goes way up.”
To deal with everyday stress and anxiety
As a multi-athlete and wrestling coach, Struck
has traveled to 23 different countries, “grabbing
ideas” from professionals everywhere. “One of the
most widely used methods to increase athleticism
at many of the world’s Olympic Training Centers
has been gymnastics. So, we copy that. It’s really
cool. We’ll start off day one with maybe one or
two kids that can do a backflip and end the year
with maybe 30 or 40 kids that can do a back flip.
It’s a huge confidence builder for them. I have
offensive and defensive linemen that can do
flips. It’s pretty awesome to watch.”
This unique program also has aided in unifying
the school. “It has helped to get all sports on
one program keeping their progress year-round
instead of switching programs every time they
switch sports,” Struck explains. “Typically, we
start class celebrating what kids in all sports have
done, how the weekend went, spotlighting kids
and letting each sport know how other sports
are doing.”
“You’re a team here,” says Ethan English, a
senior who play baseball for Indiana Wesleyan.
“It’s not like baseball team, football team,
basketball team – it’s the whole school. When
you’re working out with other teammates, it
makes you just want to be better. We represent
Jeff High. I really look forward to that every day.”
“We’re all working together,” Wellington adds.
“When you see one person hit their max, you’re
just hyped for them. Even if you didn’t hit your
max, it doesn’t matter. This class is helping us
all get bigger and better.”
draws to the class – learning to market yourself
to colleges.”
Jaylynn Brown, also a senior who will be on the
women’s basketball team at Lincoln Trail College,
says writing colleges is her favorite part of the
class. “There are millions of athletes who don’t
get to play Division I sports after high school, but
you get a chance to make it happen for yourself
in this class.”
Not every student wants to go to college to
play sports, and that’s alright. “But I guarantee
they save that college letter,” Struck says. “Just the
simple feeling of knowing that they are wanted
by someone else outside of here makes a big
difference in their life, so we make a really big deal
of it when a student hears back from a college. It
just really feels good.”
Struck also understands the importance of
character development by teaching students how
to be coachable, work with others and simply be
of teenage life, Struck has worked yoga and
meditation into the curriculum as well. “Recent
new back pain has really got me into yoga, so
I’ve started to do yoga with our athletes here. …
Learning to move your body without weight is more
important than learning to move big weight with
an unathletic body. As for meditation, learning to
meditate, to think and be by yourself can really
help with what some students deal with each day.”
So, what does Coach Struck hope his students
will remember most from their time at Jeff Sports
Performance? “More than anything, I want to them
to know that you can be good at multiple things.”
At the end of every class period, Struck and
his students can be found chanting “Every day!”
“It’s a reminder to them that every day you
have to do something to get better,” says Struck.
Fo l l o w Je f f Sp o r t s Pe r f o r m a n c e – @
jeffsportsperfo – on their Instagram page.
19