Josie Johnson
Though it is a small and little-known class, Fitness and Weight Training is a hidden gem that students are loving. This P.E elective is available to juniors and seniors, where students use the weight room to build the body they want for themselves and learn about healthy habits.
Scott Shevelson, who teaches the class, says, “Students set goals at the beginning of each quarter then make and follow their own workouts to try to achieve those goals throughout the year. Students keep logbooks and record their workouts daily so they, and I, can see their progress.”
Currently the class has 14 students. Shevelson says that numbers used to be bigger before the pandemic, with around 25-30 students. However, many students actually prefer a smaller class. Junior Demetrius Balleau takes the class and says, “I’d say that it’s helpful to have a smaller class for specifically fitness and weight training because if you have a larger class then the entire weight room is filled with people.”
Balleau highly recommends students take Fitness and Weight Training because it leads to big results, both mentally and physically. Balleau does track and field, shotput, and discus, and taking Fitness and Weight Training has really helped him with his sports. He says “[Shevelson helps] with exercises that would specifically train for the sports that I do.” He also says that the class sets him up with good routines for after high school.
Junior Tejas Blossom is a basketball player who takes the class, and he says, “I would say it’s helped me stay in shape and be disciplined.”
