The symphony of racking weights, clanging barbells and supportive classmates can be heard in the PE elective Personal Fitness (P-Fit). Student-athletes have the opportunity to combine strength and academic growth through the P-Fit class.
Held in the weightroom located by the gym lobby, P-Fit is a course offered to juniors and seniors, providing structured strength and conditioning training under the guidance of PE teacher and varsity football coach Sean Curry. The class is designed to enhance physical performance, while promoting overall wellness, making it particularly beneficial for student athletes according to the Virginia Department of Education.
While the class is taken by mostly student athletes, it is open to any upperclassmen. The structure of the class is rooted in hands-on, activity-based learning. Each class consists of a group of students performing drills aimed at improving agility, speed and explosiveness. Simultaneously, another group of students is working in the weight room on primary lifts.
“We always start with some sort of dynamic warm-up,” Curry said. “While one group is outside doing sprinting or jumping, the other half is in the weight room. The structure is very rigid, but effective.”
Senior football player Alan Leon Martinez has been taking P-Fit for two years. He believes its class structure translates into real-world benefits.
“Not all students follow the same lift,” Martinez said. “Some students lift weights ‘in season,’ which tends to be more explosive, while others follow the P-Fit lift, which is just as effective for beginners and advanced lifters.”
The course also integrates educational elements to support students’ understanding of fitness concepts. Students participate in quizzes and tests to solidify their knowledge of the weight room, lifting techniques and programming fundamentals. According to Curry, the assessments range from max-out tests, which is used to test the maximum amount of weight a student can lift, to summative evaluations on terms like supersets and tri-sets.
Beyond the physical and technical learning, P-Fit has a positive impact on students’ academic performance, according to senior Keira O’Hagan. O’Hagan is currently enrolled in the class and is also an ice hockey player.
“Lifting during school helps me be more energized and focused throughout the rest of the day,” O’Hagan said. “Additionally, if someone’s form is bad, they will correct you and help you lift in a way that prevents injury.”
Curry believes the hands-on teaching approach fosters collaboration and teamwork among classmates. While Curry and his team of other teachers, such as Melissa Bibbee, act as personal trainers, the class encourages students to coach and spot one another. All athletes will be able to improve their physicality through this class because of the way it’s structured according to Curry.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re a baseball player, football player, or a wrestler; we all need to develop the overall ability to move and bend,” Curry said.
