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Sixth-graders get fit at clinic led by Denver nuggets

By John Gleason

Sixth-graders at Most Precious Blood School have worked on getting fit and on Dec. 2 the students were guests of the Denver Nuggets for a fitness clinic in the team’s practice gym at the Pepsi Center.

The students won the chance to participate in the Team Fit Clinic by completing a four-week long fitness challenge.  Led by Nuggets strength coach Steve Hess and along with Nuggets center Melvin Ely and forward J.R. Smith, the students participated in a variety of fitness challenges through strength and conditioning routines.  They also heard about the importance of maintaining fitness from Hess.

The clinic began with the students being separated into groups.  The groups then competed against each other in a free-throw tournament.  The winning group got to watch the other groups do jumping jacks.

Before the exercise sessions, Hess told the students that every day they have two options.

“Nothing ever stays the same,” he said.  “We either get better or we get worse.  Which do you want to do?”

“Get better!” came the reply.

The kids then went to their assigned stations to begin their training.  More than fitness was on the line as students competed against each other, accumulating points for their performance good for prizes at the end of the day.

Donna Simington is the physical education teacher at Most Precious Blood. She said the Nuggets organization has a long history of reaching out to the youth of the community.

“I’ve worked with the organization before; they really care about the students,” she said.  “I got information about the Team Fit Program, the students worked hard to fulfill the requirements and here they are. I don’t know if they’re more excited to be out of school or to be here at the Pepsi Center with the players.”

Rachel Cella, 12, took a few moments out of her turn to talk about the day.

“It’s really cool to be here with the basketball players and coaches,” she said. “They’re working us really hard, but it’s fun too.”

After the students were finished with their workout, and everyone was enjoying a much-deserved water break, Hess reaffirmed his position that everyone has a choice to get better.

“The best weapon you young people have is knowledge,” he said. “Get an education, learn as much as you can and never quit.”

When the points were tallied Cella was among the winners, along with fellow students Rory Buck, Mattie Bell and Henry Berger, of an autographed pair of Denver Nuggets shoes.  Examining the size 17 sneakers, she was asked what she planned to do with them.

“I don’t know,” she said. “If we can’t put them in the trophy case at school, I can always give them to my dad.”