During the summer of 2012, Brandon Bedinger found his former coaching position filled. He had worked two years strengthening the athletes at Huron High School, but it was time for him to move on. That following August, Bedinger was hired as head strength and conditioning coach at Huron’s budding rival, Skyline High School.
Although Bedinger was hired to do the same work he did at Huron, adjusting to such a young school was not an easy task. While Huron has decades of athletic history, Skyline graduated its very first class of seniors in spring of 2012. “It’s easy when you’re building on years of work,” said Bedinger.
Because of their lack of experience, Skyline athletics are still disregarded, even ridiculed, by older, bigger schools. Bedinger hopes to change this by improving the attitude of Skyline athletes. “The culture here at Skyline needs to change,” Bedinger tells the Women’s Lacrosse team. “Other schools think you suck. They think you’re not worth anything. They think you’re a new school, and that you have no business being on the same field as them, being on the same league as them. They don’t fear you. Work hard, and make them fear you.”
Bedinger believes that the key to shaping Skyline athletics into a successful, competitive program is to increase intensity during practices. “Training’s not suppose to be easy; it’s suppose to be very hard. I try to make [practice] so it takes you to a place where you want to quit.” However, when an athlete chooses not to quit, this guarantees the athlete will be able to push through hard games during their season. “I try to preach intensity, intensity, intensity,” said Bedinger. “With all things being equal, the person who is more intense, who wants it more, will win.”
One of his biggest responsibilities as a coach is to make sure the intensity is high during practice, and that every athlete is attacking every set. He hopes that these athletes retain this attitude and apply it to their studies and other interests as well. “Anything you’re interested in, you should attack. You should go after it with some sort of intensity, some sort of passion,” he said.
So far, Bedinger’s message has been well received. Emi Jackson, a Skyline Women’s Lacrosse player, claims the practices are “definitely harder,” but also “get you more in shape.” She believes the training in the weight room will transfer well onto the field. For Jackson, the challenge has been invigorating, and she is glad she persisted with Bedinger’s training. .
Skyline Women’s Water Polo coach Rebecca Godek believes that “strength training is something that is beneficial to all sports.” By conditioning and building strength during the preseason, teams are able to focus on other concepts, such as maintaining their strength and practicing new techniques and specific plays.
Strength training not only has its physical benefits, but also educates the athletes about proper form and skills that are crucial to their safety, both in and out of the weight room. “Too often, athletes end up injuring themselves by trying to lift heavy weights on their own without the proper education on how to actually use machines, or what is best for their sport,” Godek stated. Less injuries during the season mean more playing time for the athletes. For a competitive team, it is very important for all their members to be in strong, healthy conditions, and able to participate.
Currently, spring teams are preparing for their upcoming season which starts in mid-March. Even off-season teams, such as football, are regularly working out in the weight room. Many teams need to train, and Bedinger could not possibly work with all of them on his own. Brett Johnson and Jaishnu Gaengulee are college students who volunteered to help Skyline athletes under Bedinger’s supervision. While their presence allows athletes to get more personal attention, Johnson and Gaengulee also benefit from the experience.
Johnson began his work with Bedinger in September of 2012. “It’s definitely a different environment than anything I have been in. It’s nice to be on the other side of it: on the coaching side,” said Johnson.
Gaengulee, a former athlete at Huron High School, had worked with Bedinger before. After Gaengulee graduated high school, he suffered from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, and resumed work with Bedinger. While he focused on his recovery, he also spent much of his time around Skyline athletes. “I guess I loved the kids and I just decided to volunteer and help out, and strengthen my knees at the same time.” As of now, Bedinger is helping Gaengulee prepare for his upcoming college football season in the fall.
Since Bedinger was hired at Skyline, many students and staff members have expressed high hopes and expectations for the future of Skyline athletics. Considering Bedinger’s coaching experience, skills, and distinct approach, such goals aren’t as improbable as other high schools may expect.
