Plains Horseman stays in shape
<p>Plains senior Cole Bensen is the only member of the football team to join the 100-point club. This is his third straight time being in the club. Plains senior Cole Bensen is the only member of the football team to join the 100-point club. This is his third straight time being in the club.</p>
PLAINS – Plains High School senior Cole Benson was the only member of the Horsemen football team to make the 100-point club this year, showing dedication to keeping in shape and healthy for the season.
He was very proud of the accomplishment and felt it was something of an honor, since it is a fairly exclusive group.
“It’s a pretty big accomplishment since there are only three of us that have done it in over four years,” he said.
According to Juan Lulack, head coach of the Plains football team, the club is based on points gained through a student’s participation in academics, practices, camps and weight lifting. It is a way to reward the kids for their hard work as well as recognizing their accomplishments in preparing for the season.
“It pays off on the field as well,” Lulack said. “It also encourages everyone to get in [the weight room] … especially the guys that are juniors and seniors. You should be leading the team.”
Most years have usually seen three people make the club. This year was different, though, and while others came close, conditions meant they did not get enough points. The coach noted his son was also close, and probably could have been one of the top rankers, but an injury meant he was not able to participate in the practices or training.
Lulack usually rewards the players who make the club with a pizza and an embroidered t-shirt acknowledging the accomplishment.
“I’m trying to encourage these guys to get to the weight room and get to some weight lifting,” Lulack said. “It’s for the benefit of all sports; it’s not just football, it’s for every sport they’re in and for their overall health.”
The accumulation of points is a year-round endeavor, which usually starts right after basketball season. Participation in other sports also provides points, encouraging players to broaden their athletic horizons.
“Before, there really hasn’t been a program as far as rewarding those guys that are coming into the weight room,” he said. “I try to add something to this program.”
Benson recalled he went to use the weight room for about an hour every day and participated heavily in camps, which were an all-day workout on their own. He even kept up the workouts throughout the summer, getting into the school weight room for a little while each day.
“It helps that my dad is a teacher here, so he opened up the weight room for me; so that was pretty nice,” he said.
This is the third year in a row Benson has made the 100-point club, starting with his sophomore year. He recalled it was hard work, but it was an honor to reach the goal all three years. He is not expecting to stop here and plans to keep up the workout regimen past high school into college.