Nation’s strongest again

By Christian Malone

July 27, 2007 11:55 pm

— VALDOSTA — Valdosta High’s football team remains the strongest high school team in the nation.
The Wildcats broke three Bigger, Faster, Stronger national weightlifting records Thursday night at the team’s weight room.
“I’m very pleased with what our players did,” Valdosta head coach Rick Tomberlin said. “We finished the summer real strong, and I’m proud of these kids.”
Valdosta already held the national record for having the most players powercleaning 225 pounds, a record they set last summer with 58. On Thursday, they shattered that record, as 77 players powercleaned 225.
Not satisfied with simply breaking their own record, the Wildcats then broke two other records.
First, they increased the weight on the barbell to 250 pounds, and watched 44 Wildcats powerclean that weight. The old record was 31.
After that, 19 Wildcats powercleaned 275 pounds, which broke the old BFS record by three. Valdosta went after the record for 300 pounds, but fell three lifts short of the record of six.
“We tried to break four Bigger, Faster, Stronger records, and we broke three of them,” Tomberlin said. “To be honest with you, they exceeded my expectations. I thought we would have 60, maybe 62, guys powerclean 225, which would have been a record. But to have 77 do it is just amazing.
“I’ve been all over the country doing Bigger, Faster, Stronger clinics, and I’ve never seen a team do something like this.”
Tomberlin praised the team for its work this summer. Even though the workouts are voluntary, 66 players had perfect attendance. There were also 29 players named No Limit Soldiers, an award the coaching staff gives to players for their overall performance in workouts.
“Our No Limit Soldiers are guys who have been in our program that have paid the price to be champions,” Tomberlin said. “They’re guys that have had perfect attendance, shown leadership and done the right things in our workouts.”
Tomberlin gave his top honor, the Golden Cat Award, to senior defensive end Jamaal Hunter. Hunter led the team in sacks last year, and was a second-team All-Region selection.
“The Golden Cat is the player who has shown the best example of what a Wildcat should be,” Tomberlin said. “Jamaal has put in a lot of work, he has been a leader, and I feel he’s earned this award.”
Tomberlin emphasizes weight training as much as any football coach in the state. Valdosta won the state weightlifting championship last February.
Now the Wildcats hope their success in the weight room helps lead to success on the football field.
“Will this make us a better football team? I think it will, but we’ll have to see,” Tomberlin said. “We’ll have a lot of work to do once practice starts this Wednesday. But I really believe we’re doing the right things. The kids are working hard. They’ve definitely gotten stronger. I think we’ll be a lot better this year.”
Valdosta’s first official practice will be Wednesday, Aug. 1. The first full-contact practice will be on Aug. 6. Valdosta will hold three-a-day practices until school begins, then will transition to afternoon practices. The season opens Aug. 31, when the Wildcats host Sandy (Utah) Jordan High.
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Valdosta High will be giving physicals for potential Wildcat athletes on today at the school’s freshman academy. The physicals will begin at 9 a.m., and are open to all Valdosta athletes.

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