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In Coach Dan Kelly’s first year, he realized that the Grizzlies needed more off-season work. Coach Kelly came from Arleta High and Sylmar High where he won three CIF championships as an offensive coordinator. Coach Kelly understands the old saying “Champions are made in the off-season.” In previous seasons the Grizzlies have not truly dedicated themselves to lifting. Coach Kelly is changing that. Coach Kelley noted “I am here to stay, and I am hoping to change the culture of this program.”
The Grizzlies have been putting in 10 hours a week in the weight room, focusing on three main lifts—power clean, bench press and squats; and despite their lack of a field due to winter sports, have been using the blacktop to practice footwork.
Coach Kelly said, “I am trying to turn this team into hard-working athletes. They are working hard in the weight room and on the blacktop. I am looking for big things from Julian Torres a returning senior, Tai Brown an incoming junior, as well as Shane Tamura the returning senior running back, and a lot of other guys”.
The Grizzlies are changing the culture of Golden Valley by putting in the necessary work. They already have 24 players who have broken the 200-pound barrier for bench, and 31 players break the 300-pound barrier for squat.
Sophomore Tai Brown says, “We are looking to improve our game. We are taking it day by day step by step; giving everything we have during every rep”.
Junior Quarterback Victor Corona says “Coach Kelly has been pushing us harder than any coach has ever pushed in my entire three years. I have already improved 20 pounds in my bench since he has been here.”
Since their first league game in 2006, the Grizzlies are winless in the Foothill League. In the past, Golden Valley’s off-season program was centered on conditioning. Kelly has changed that by involving weight room activities, blacktop activities, and a little conditioning here and there. The Grizzlies are going to be back on the field next week in hopes to intensify their training even more. With a new program, a new focus, and more intensity, the Grizzlies are hoping that all of their hard work will pay off come this fall season.
-Tai Brown
