ATHLETICS
1993 At left, Director of Strength and Conditioning AJ Short
Getting Stronger
with the softball team after school in the weight 2026 works room, which has come a long way from the 1990s.
New Director of Strength and Conditioning expanding health and fitness opportunities Article by Director of Communications Teresa Messmore; Video by Associate Director of Communications Lexi Majoros Magnificat’s recent investment in additional personnel, technology, and equipment is helping athletes improve their physical fitness during the offseason, and plans are underway to expand health and wellness opportunities for all students through the physical education curriculum. “As girls’ athletics has progressed in high school, the strength and conditioning part has become such a major piece for successful programs,” Athletic Director Paul Barlow said. “Our athletes needed to get bigger, stronger, and faster to play at the level that we expect our programs to be at.”
“I consider myself an extension of all the sport coaches,” Short said. “The girls that have utilized the space have enjoyed what we’re doing in here. They can feel themselves getting stronger.” A comprehensive strength and conditioning program can not only help improve athlete performance but also reduce injuries. With knowledge of which injuries are most likely in each sport, Short can structure training programs to strengthen the surrounding muscle groups and minimize or prevent injuries. Looking ahead, the Athletic Department plans to expand opportunities to non-athletes so all students, as well as potentially faculty and staff, can participate. For example, Short is a certified yoga instructor and will offer classes after school. The introduction of adventure learning with a low ropes course or climbing structure could also gain interest from non-athletes. Ideas such as these support a culture of health and wellness as part of Magnificat’s holistic approach to education.
This fall the Athletic Department hired AJ Short as the Director of Strength and Conditioning, making Magnificat one of few all-girls schools in Ohio to have this full-time position. Short brings more than 10 years of experience, most recently at Saint Ignatius High School, and holds a BS in exercise science from John Carroll University and an MS in exercise physiology and adult fitness from the University of Akron. During his first few months at Magnificat, he has worked with teams on sport-specific conditioning programs “We hope to have periods during the day where whether using the recently renovated weight room and TeamBuildr you’re an athlete or not an athlete, you can come down and software, which designs and tracks athlete training. use the fitness room,” Barlow said. Previously, Magnificat outsourced conditioning to outside Scan to watch an organizations that would come in and train athletes. interview with Director Advantages of a full-time trainer, however, include closer of Strength and Conditioning AJ Short communication with coaches, greater familiarity with athletes’ strengths and weaknesses, and expansion into other areas like nutrition and mental health.
10 MAGNIFICAT MAGAZINE