North Valley High School, Grants Pass Oregon
By Roger Freeborn Head Football Coach North Valley High School Grilllts Pass, Oregon 35-9 34-1Y! 38-7 1/2 10th* 41-10 1/2 Ilth** 43-3 1/2 *State Champion - Best Ever by Sophomore **First Meet: Best Ever by a Junior We have followed the development of Bigger Faster Stronger for many years. 1 hilvc used the trainin h techniques presented by BFS and feel they have contributed greatly to the programs J hilve cOilched in two different high schools. I hilve read the /0 U 1"11111 with greilt interest each issue. Two ty pes of articles ]' d Ii ke to see more of Me those featuring High School Clthletes, especic1Jly femdle athlL'lL's.
When asked if I knew of anyone who would qualify, I enthusiasticillly responded, "Christy Ward." As a high school Sophomore, Christy won the Oregon Class AA shot put competition lilst spring, certClinly qUitL' a feat for elll underclassmiln. Christy is c1 three sport athlete at North Valley High School and hc1S alreadr carved out a spot in the trophy case with her state championship as well as being selected Honor,lble rvIL-n· tion All-Americc1n last summer. This fall she started on the Conference Chilmpionship Volleyball team that won district and a trip to the stelle playoffs.
Right now she is an integral part of our bClsketbali team which is in first place in the Skyline Conference and ranked second in the state poll. During all this, Christy finds time to prilcticc the shot put regulilrJy. Such accomplishments are not new to the Ward fClnlily. Brother Charles won the shot put at State il few yeim ago and now helps with workouts. In addition, her boyfriend was a member of our state chilmpionship football team ilS well as a shot putter and discus thrower. During her Sophomore year, Christy lifted weights in one of our scheduled weight lifting Physical Educi1tion classes.
This lifting really helped her improve her performance culminating in a state championship throw of 41' lOW' (best ever by all. Oregon High School Sophomore). Since she has slarted a regulilr lifting program, Christv's athletic performance has shown steady improvement. Just how good these performances are is not easy to determine. Strength and speed standards for male athletes him' always been well documented in Bigger Filster Strolwr articles.
It is my hope that this article might be a catalyst for some of you other coaches around the country to send in information that you have on the female athletes that you have in your lifting programs so that strength standards might start to be formulated for female athlete; as well. Last summer, Christy was invited to take part in ,I good-will track exchange tour in China. She had Cl grcol time as well as it being a real educational experience. At our Upper Limit Camp last July, Stefan Fernholm and Sam Varner (BFS Clinicians) outlined a total trainini Continued on Page 13 Stefan Ft'rnholm spotting Christy on a 200 lb.
bench at Upper Limit Clinic' Bench: Box Squut: Clean: VertiCul Jump: Incline: Squut: program for Christy to follow including lifting, running, jumping, and stretching. She has now followed this training program for six months. Her performance has steadily improved In some ways, her athletic ability is remarkabJe. When the volleyball team was tested for vertical Jumping ability, Christy's was the best on the team. There are not too many people, including myself, who would pick a shot put and discus thrower as having the highest leap. Since the U.L. Camp, her vertic,1l jump has increased six inches. During the first week of Februilry, Christy competed i1t a big indoor meet in Portland.
In this first meet of the year she put the shot 43' 3V:," a full one foot five inches farther than last June. ;'-Jeedless to say, this was another in a long line of firsts for Christy. This 43 foot heave is the best ever by a Junior in the state of Oregon. Christy's perfonnil nce is il good exa m pie of the success that can be had by km,1Je athletes in the BFS progrilln. Over the years we have been i1ble to persuade some of our female athletes to follow the progrillTI. Those that have joined, have JI! experienced tremendous gains in strength, confidence, and improved athletic performance. It's not easy to get female athletes enthused about weight lifting.
Most fear that they will develop bulging muscles similar to male and female body builders. Fi1f from that, what actually happens is that a firm foundation in physical fitness is laid upon which athletic performilnce might be built and improved. We huve incorporuted ,111 Upper Limits Tr<1ining curriculum in our pll\ver lifting class at school. Christy is c1 charter member. We Me running, Jumping, visualizing, and lifting our way to the top. With the bc?;inning of truck seuson coming up, Christy is ,1nxious to see whc1t will h(1ppen. She hc1s great goals - for herself and high expectations for her perfonnc1nce.
We all look forw,1rd to seeing her compete ,n the next two truck seusons for North Villley. All of this attention and notoriety might be quite heady for (In uthlck in just her Junior yeJr, but she h,1I1dles it very well. She knows where she is and where she wants to go. She knows that the mud to get there begins with steps to the weight room and the shot put ring Her dedication is a JOy to work with ilnd an inspiration for others. We at BFS congratulate Christy WMd for her dedication and accomplishments. She is a pioneer for all women athletes in high school. Thanks to Coach Roger Freeborn for this article.
CHRISTY WARD UP-DATE Christy is in the middle of track season at this writing. She has already improved to 46-3. That's over six feet better than the second best effort in the state. She has also thrown the discus over 110 feet. Christy is 5-6 and a firm 164 pounds. The following are personal bests: Bench 205, Towel Bench 235, Power Clean 170, Squat 355, Box Squat 520, VJ 30 1/2, 40 5.13. Christy is also extremely flexible as she has a 12 1/2 inch reach beyond her toes. 13
From BFS Magazine — May/June 1987. Part of the BFS Magazine Archive (1980–2014).
