Grace Reek: Raising the Bar with SAS
Photo submitted by HHS teacher and coach of SAS, Mr. Justin Seely
Strength, Agility, and Speed (SAS) is an after school training program that is directed by Hamilton High School’s physical education and coaching staff. Mr. Justin Seely, one of the SAS coaches and HHS Physical Education teacher, chose an athlete that he thought stood out and deserved to be written about. He chose Sophomore Grace Reek, who, according to Mr. Seely, is not only determined but also a great leader. Reek is someone who, like everyone in the program, has improved her skills with the help and consistency of the teachers and peers around her.
Reek is an HHS volleyball and track & field athlete who participates in SAS year-round to stay fit in the off-season and hone her skills during the year. She has been participating since the start of her freshman year in 2018.
Since joining, her favorite part is leading the other students in mobility exercises. Reek says, “I love how everyone comes together to finish the day off by stretching. Afterward, we always bring everyone into a huddle and just address whatever happened that day. We talk about anything from goals for the next day, things we did great that day, or ways we can help ourselves keep improving outside of the weight room.”
On Reek’s leadership, Seely states, “She leads in several ways. She leads by example putting effort into all aspects of her training (warm-up, speed, and strength training). Effort not only means challenging herself to get stronger and faster but she also wants to have the best technique possible so she listens and learns! She also leads vocally when it comes time for our post-lift mobility. She is very well respected by her peers.”
Though SAS works on many different things, it isn’t all fun and games. According to Reek, the most challenging part of SAS is “stopping myself from getting comfortable. It's easy to fall into the repetitive schedule, but I try to get comfortable being uncomfortable.”
Despite the difficult parts of SAS, these athletes remain motivated by working with their peers. Reek says, “I joined because seeing people motivated me.” Seeing her peers in the weight room after school and wanting to be able to do what they were capable of is a common motivation for SAS students.
Seely is happy to see Reek’s consistency and states, “She is there day in and day out getting better. I'm sure there are days she doesn't feel like coming but she understands the process and dedication it takes to get better and achieve her goals.”
Reek is happy she joined SAS to keep up her muscle memory in the off season and meet new people. Reek says, “Instead of having to start fresh every season and rebuild muscle memory, staying active in SAS allows me to get stronger and stronger each season rather than starting fresh each year.”
