With months of preparation, 14 Edna Louise Spear Elementary fifth graders competed in the Suffolk Zone Fit Club competition on May 11 in Sayville. The competition was against 29 other elementary schools from across Suffolk County, and Port Jeff finished in seventh place.
Wearing team jerseys, Josie Amtmann, Leo Baranta, Isabella Fraticci Cseri, Julianna Fraticci Cseri, Ezedin Gatley, Kai Gronenthal, Austin Nam, Olivia Nguyen, Luke Peterson, Nathan Rubenstein, Vanessa Schuchman, Ryan Verruto, Olivia Viviano and Leilani Von Oiste were selected by Mr. Adam Sherrard, Director of Health, Physical Education, Athletics and Nursing, and Assistant Principal Mr. Brian Walker. The students participated in tryouts during physical education classes earlier in the spring. The top seven boys and seven girls were selected for the school’s Fit Club team. They met after school over the past seven weeks to prepare for the competition.
“The preparation and focus on improving their individual fitness levels were extraordinary,” Mr. Sherrard said. “We gave the students some equipment to do additional practice at home on their own, and it was evident that they put the equipment to good use. Every day they came to practice, each student had an improved score from the week prior.”
The students competed in two “As Many Rounds as Possible” events. In the first event, they performed 30 situps, 30 shoulder taps, 15 agility jumps and a 25-foot bear crawl. In the next event, they performed 15 box jumps, a 75-foot farmer’s carry, 30 jump ropes and a 25-foot crab walk. In both events, each student completed four exercises and continued to complete as many rounds as possible within 15 minutes.
“I could not be more proud of our students,” Mr. Walker said. “The determination they demonstrated to keep pushing through each exercise was outstanding. The encouragement from their teammates certainly helped them persevere.”
Date Added: 5/16/2022