How one special California team pulled off two miraculous seasons

odds of finishing undef¢ ted are slim. It's tough for a team tebe up for every 4 single game, and injurigg to Key players 4 can derail even the g pgtest team. When a team does go undefeated, it’sa player will never forget. So what are the§ipiances Jundefeated seasons in a row? Dream on{ itt hey, Central Valley Christian High School did it, so there's h & forthe rest of us re | chievement takes great coacl i , and the Cavaliers i Gambini heads the coa e, he has been coaching au/C for the past Before Gambini became heafÏtoach ago, the Cavaliers’ seasons were far frog ial. From 1996 to 2000, the wi from Visalia, California, was 23-31.

Sinfiithen, they have chalked up a 40-8 record, including thdjjmost recent two years of being undefeated. This yealiifiey achieved Pa California All-State small-school team.

Gambini is continually working to make their schedule more challenging. about every school we play is larger than we are, and we consistently play Division 3- and Division schools.

We also have a tough pre-season schedule.” #7 Karl teVelde Shaping Up for Greatness After his 2002 team finished with a mediocre¢ cord, Kevin Sellers and decided to implement the BES program programs, but we were looking for something that the Computer program had all the elements we were looking for, and we were impressed that it harder.” Sellers agrees.

“The Beat the Computer program really motivated the kids,”

Sellers. challenge them. Beat the Computer is great nple and the kids really get into it Many workout programs I've seen are just too complicated and igned more for college athletes. With our kids the based upon their results in the weightroom, their plan is working to perfection. “When we first started, our average squatv adds that to help motivate his athletes, the staff has develope three lifting-achievement club that are determined by the combined total of the bench press, squat and power clean, -, and 1,000-pound clubs. When you achieve membership you get for your letterman jacket. These are big incentives to our athletes, especially getting your name on the wall.”

Did you BEAT THE COMPUTER on you last set? SET?

SETA.

Rep Computer.

At the begigaif® Ooch simply prin out she"

Another reason for the big ines in the Cavaliers’ strength results is that Sellers pushes his athletes hard in-season with twicea-week workouts.

“We talk about getting stronger as the season goes on, and I think a huge advantageoflifting in-season is not _ just prevention of injury but also the fact that the body heals faster "when you're training.”

_In addition to putting in place a basic workout, the coaching staff simplified the weightroom. “We basically got rid of every machine that we could — the only machine we have now is the BFS cable crossover. We have two powerlifting stations with platforms, two squat racks and two bench press stations in an area of about 1,200 square feet. We can get up to 24 kids through at a time, and we've implemented the program with our junior high athletes.” Weight training classes throughout the day? “Yes,” says Sellers emphatically. “We offer three different classes for the high school students and two for the junior high. Non-athletes are permitted to take the classes, but athletes have preference.”

Sellers believes that with BES his athletic program offers an ideal balance of rigorous challenge and potential for achievement. His opinion is that the moreadvanced programspromoted in strength training books and journals are not set up for multi-sport athletes. ahigh school strength and conditioning program, and almost without exception those programs would require larger facilities. Colleges often advice for anyone who wants to bea high school Footbal coad have tons of money to implement such programs, but even if we had really can’t become a coach foryour own personal reasons — it has to the money it would be unrealistic because our class periods are only 48 —_be about the kids.

What you want for your players is forthem to lear to minutes.” execute your program with a better sense of teamwork and selflessness. If they work on becoming better persons overall . .. if they can walk away with positive memories of their experience withinyour program— The philosophy of the athletic program at Central Valley Christian High despite their wins and losses—you can consider yourselfa successful vali hex yon! cat bette aS are cog to remernberyou School is to “be a dynamic and integral part of the whole educational experience,” Sportmanship, with a commitment to fair play, is a top priority.

As stated in the school’s student handbook, “The ultimate goal of high school athletics should be to foster the value of participation without overemphasizing the importance of winning and toimprove positive citizenship traits among the program's participants.”

Of course, this year the Cavaliers have = them: back-to-back perfect seasons!

‘Reattirmed the reason | entered coaching 25 Ourschool and com: munityneeded.” Coat Fox induethe Bean 19 Godel ea tSperatenomnmum. es only $15 7‘very schoolin the nation should schedule BeAn 1 Seminar today! It is without a doubt the best al that has happened to ourschool.’* school and will a up to three ours inspiring, motivating and educating your athletes how to become true elevens!

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From BFS Magazine — July/August 2005. Part of the BFS Magazine Archive (1980–2014).