Boys’, girls’ ultimate merge for preseason strength

Power and Finesse Fitness program draws low attendance

Senior+Max+Holden+participates+in+a+workout+session+to+strengthen+for+the+ultimate+season+Mar.+3.+The+boys+and+girls+ultimate+teams+have+been+working+out+at+Power+and+Finesse+Fitness+in+order+to+prepare+for+the+upcoming+season.

Emily Ziessman

Senior Max Holden participates in a workout session to strengthen for the ultimate season Mar. 3. The boys and girls ultimate teams have been working out at Power and Finesse Fitness in order to prepare for the upcoming season.

Yonit Krebs

This year is the first time that boys’ and girls’ ultimate decided to participate in a program run by Power and Finesse Fitness for athletes, according to senior Jack Ostrovsky, who attends the preseason conditioning.

“We haven’t done this in the past, and there’s a lot of anticipation for the season,” Ostrovsky said. “We know we’re going to be really good, so we chose to do this so we can get ready early.”

According Ostrovsky, Luis Ocampo, owner of Power and Finesse Fitness, runs the athlete’s training.

“We pay him for a certain number of practices a week, and then we go and — it’s an hour long each time — he trains us, tells us technique and stuff that increases power and stamina and strength,” Ostrovsky said.

Ostrovsky said he is disappointed with the low turnout for the program that he views as beneficial.

“There aren’t that many people who have done it so far, probably the max number of people that we’ve gotten at one time is five. A couple times I’ve just been there with one other player,” Ostrovsky said. “I did it because I really like having a coach that knows about technique, so I thought I would take advantage of the opportunity.”

According to junior Marta Hill, so far she has been the only member of the girls’ ultimate team in attendance.

“Every time I have gone I’ve been the only girl. The first time I went it was me and another guy. It was a small class. It was chill,” Hill said. “The next time I was the only person, so we did the whole class in Spanish, which was really cool. It was just more personal because it was only tailored toward me.”

Hill said although she wishes more people attended the classes, she is not disappointed that fewer girls signed up.

“I get why people aren’t doing it because it’s a time commitment, and a lot of people are really busy, but I do wish more people had done it because it’s more time that we can spend together as a team while we’re also getting in shape for the season,” Hill said.

Ocampo said his studio focuses on full-body exercise as a way to improve strength.

“We focus on using your body as a unit, so we don’t do exercises where you use your legs or your arms or your abs,” Ocampo said. “We integrate everything that we do in all of our exercises, so you use your body as a unit so you can be more functional, more efficient and stronger that way.”

According to Ocampo, the ultimate coaches approached him about doing strength for ultimate players at Power and Finesse Fitness.

“We had a session with the coaches telling them what we do in our studio, so they came and they liked what I do in Power and Finesse Fitness,” Ocampo said.

Although ultimate is a spring sport and will begin the first week of April, Ostrovsky said the team practices year-round.

“We’ve had fall league from September to winter, so that’s playing games,” Ostrovsky said. “Then we had indoor practices from December continuing on until April, so it’s pretty much all year, but the real season is in the spring.”

According to the Park ultimate website, girls’ ultimate indoor practices are Wednesdays from 4-6 p.m at the middle school. Boys’ ultimate indoor practices are Mondays from 4-6 p.m. at the middle school.