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t’s a sunny fall afternoon on Lauer Field and Upper School studentathletes are hard at work in one of the final sessions of the NextLevel Lancer program for the first trimester. The students are alternating between relays and conditioning drills, careful to maintain a six-foot distance to adhere to the School’s health and safety protocols. Parker Athletic Trainer Niki Dehner is keeping time on a stopwatch while also shouting encouragement to the teenage athletes. “Go, go, go!” She yells across the field. “Move those arms.” She peers at a tablet on a stand to check in on those participating from home. “Good job, you guys rule!” She tells them with a smile. Next-Level Lancer is a training program established this school year for all Upper School students with a focus on fitness, form, flow, and leadership development. The students meet three hours per week after school—some in person and some online. The program, established as a lifetime fitness model, was developed during the summer by Niki, Parker Strength and Conditioning coach Jeff Rose, and PE teacher and coach Emily Lotkowictz. The intention was to fill the void created by the postponement of organized high school sports due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “The overall goal of the program is to help increase the body awareness, strength, flexibility, and total fitness for all our athletes to push them to the next level by providing a solid, safe base to gain these qualities,” explains Niki.
“We are preparing our athletes for their sport and pushing them physically and mentally to become better,” Jeff says. The initial plan for Next-Level Lancer was to offer a holistic workout program to allow all Upper School students a chance to get stronger, faster, and more flexible, says Parker Athletic Director Anthony Thomas. “It was our
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