Seguin Today: January 2024

JANUARY 2024, Vol 3 l Iss. 12

TOP TIER TRAINING

Inside Seguin ISD’s athlete training center with Coach Berkley

FABULOUS 50S

Kelle Wilde shares her tips for getting in the gym later in life

Well-come to

2024

AN ENTIRE ISSUE DEDICATED TO INSPIRING YOUR NEW YEAR’S WELLNESS GOALS

Seguin Office 109 W. Court 830-372-9466 New Braunfels Office 480 S. Seguin Ave 830-214-6002 ANDERSPIERCE.COM

Short and Long-Term Skilled Nursing Care

Services Offered: • Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapies • Cardiac Care • Diabetic Management • Stroke Care • Pulmonary Care • Wound Care • Respite Care • IV Care & Management • Secure Memory Support Unit with Social Activities and Outdoor Courtyard 2

1210 Eastwood Drive Seguin, TX 78155 Phone: (830) 379-9308

1219 Eastwood Drive Seguin, TX 78155 Phone: (830) 379-7777

THIS ISSUE

JANUARY 2024, Volume 3 l Issue 12

New Year’s Resolutions are not a thing that I do. I know myself too well to think I’d keep it going for more than a few weeks, but that doesn’t mean I don’t use the new year to help try and reset old habits and make room for new ones. This year, I aim to improve my mental health, make more art, work on my novels again, and get my body moving.

I’m not promising myself I’ll do these things every day; I’m just telling myself we will do it MORE, and that’s good enough for me.

To help motivate you on your quest to self-improvement, in this issue we focused on a theme of wellness with stories that will hopefully inspire you to keep going. We have a column for you from local fitness expert Kelle Wilde, as well as a feature from Christ Austin, where you’ll get a look inside the SISD student-athlete training facilities on the high school campus. Then, parents will want to check out another new column in our ‘This 6 Weeks’ series.

Have a great new year, Seguin. May you find joy, happiness and all your hope for in 2024!

Lizz Daniels Creative Director

facebook.com/KWEDradio kwed.seguindailynews @kwed SeguinToday

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COLUMN: FABULOUSLY FIT 50

Get inspired to hit the gym with Kelle Wilde who shares her experience in fitness over the age of 50

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COVERSHOT

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Meservey Group. Check out 18

DIY: RECIPE TO TRY Game day nachos

Seguin Squirrel Trail.

Photo by Lizz Daniels

EVENTS CALENDAR Community events & special promotions happening in the area this month.

and is sponsored by the page 12 for a full map of the

TOTALLY SQUIRRELLY SEGUIN Seguin squirrels and where to find them around town

Chance the Squirrel is located at 520 N. River St.

TOP TIER TRAINING Seguin ISD takes you inside it’s student athlete training center with Coach Berkley

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COLUMN: THIS 6 WEEKS Maximing your kid’s wellness

JANUARY 2024, Volume 3 l Issue 12

GENERAL MANAGER Darren Dunn

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Lizz Daniels

WRITERS Cindy Aguirre-Herrera Lizz Daniels

MARKETING DIRECTOR Nick Spence

ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Laurie Ann Heideke Linda Duncan

DIGITAL MEDIA PRODUCER Jarred Kindles

OFFICE MANAGER Priscilda Rodriguez

Seguin Today is published once a month by: KWED, Seguin Daily News in Seguin, Texas. www.seguintoday.com

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SPECIAL: Column

50 FABULOUSLY FIT

fifty

& BEYOND ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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Originally from Iowa, Kelle Wilde graduated from SWTSU. She owns Tiger Sports Complex, which includes, Texas Tigers Volleyball Club and Top Tier Training which she operates with Coach Sky and Coach Clay. She has been coaching for over 20 years, with the last 11 in the fitness industry. She has received certifications in: Crossfit L1 - trainer, kids Crossfit, Crossfit football, and Underground Strength L1 coaching.

At 59 she is here for her “sisters” they don’t have to stop because of a number.

Getting back in the gym & in shape for a better YOU!

Column by Kelle Wilde

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itness in our Fifties sure has a different view for me than it did when I was younger. As a current gym owner and fitness enthusiast, I was a collegiate athlete and post-college, I stayed active competitively until family and career rivaled my limited free time, and something had to give. Yes, one can stay active “chasing and doing” with a young, growing family, but as the years fly by (and they will), the focus on personal health and fitness can become very dim. Then forty-something happens, the kids are older, and one day, you look in the mirror and wonder where all the time has gone. You start questioning yourself and your ability to jump back in.… Can I do this? Am I too old? Will I get hurt? The resounding answer is YES, YOU CAN, and possibly, for some, you can do it even better than before!

Walking back into the gym is hard.

Walking into a gym for the first time can be paralyzing. I know because I teach a weekly 5:30 am fitness class and see those faces. I will tell you the same thing I say to all my first-timers or “returners” who walk through the door - Listen to your body and focus on yourself. Everyone in the gym is on a fitness journey, but there are many paths, so comparing yourself to Jenny, who’s been consistently exercising for two years, or setting the pace with Jack, who is competing next month, isn’t a good idea. When jumping

back into the fitness arena, your body will let you know when to stop and rest. Your coach will modify movements to fit your current fitness level and keep a finger on your fitness pulse, gently pushing you as your stamina increases. Mobility is key, and stretching is a MUST. Additionally, fueling that gas tank of yours is the most important thing you can do, as healthy eating and water intake should be a priority.

Personally, I found CrossFit later in life (late 40s) and was immediately addicted to the adrenaline rush and supportive community.

My competitive spirit loved the competitions to see how I stacked up against my peers. As a

coach, I love challenging athletes of all ages and fitness levels to find their ‘why’ and explore their fitness potential. Through the years, my focus has definitely changed. Completing the WODs (workout of the day) as prescribed (RX) isn’t nearly as important as it once was.

Leaning into my 60s in 2024 has highlighted some physical limitations that may not allow for RX movements but certainly don’t keep me from maintaining a Functional Fitness focus on my health. Entering the “grandma era” in recent months has heightened my desire to stay fit and mobile.

As a new year dawns, perhaps your time is NOW. Whether you are younger, older, or somewhere in between.…don’t hesitate, don’t second guess, and don’t procrastinate. Find a gym (there are several options in Seguin) and GO. Make today the day YOU become a priority in your life once again. Good health is not guaranteed, and as we age, it requires more from us to maintain.

My challenge to you….Make a 30-day commitment and experience the life-altering changes that will follow. If you can buy $6 coffees, enjoy eating out, or are a regular on the Amazon website, you can afford this. It’s YOUR choice. EVERYONE wins from a healthier, happier version of you. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Let us welcome 2024 with open arms, excited for all the blessings to come! • 7

Feature

TOP TIER

TRAINING

& CONDITIONING WITH STRENGTH

Where Matador Athletes Get FIT Hit the rack at SISD’s state-of-the-art student fitness training center Story by Chris Austin Courtesy Photos

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ince 2016, Gary Berkley has helped student-athletes at Seguin High School prepare for their endeavors on the athletic fields of play.

Coach “Berk,” as he is known to his students, is a Virginia native. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Corporate Training and Development from Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas, and a Masters in Corporate Health in Wellness from California University of Pennsylvania. Berkley is also a 24-year Army veteran, having completed his service in 2014.

During his later years in the Army, Berkley worked with leaders in the military medical field and with soldiers in the Wounded Warrior Company. Berkley also served as a drill instructor. He says he uses the experiences of serving as a mentor for military personnel in his work with student-athletes.

“A lot of my background was training soldiers,” Berkeley says of his time in the Army. “So, it actually just rolled right into what I do now because I was so used to helping younger soldiers in the advancement of their careers.

I served as a coach, teacher, and mentor.”

Berkley now serves as the strength and conditioning coach as well as a health science teacher at Seguin High School. As the strength and conditioning coach, it’s Berkley’s job to make sure his Matador students are ready for competition, whether the sport is football, basketball, volleyball, tennis, or any other sport played at the school.

“I do a needs analysis for each sport,” Berkley said. “For football, we work more with strength and power.

In basketball, soccer and volleyball, those sports use more endurance.

So, I have to vary my training programs.”

Seguin High School athletes train year-round during both the on and off seasons for their respective sports.

Berkley says their strength and conditioning routines are adapted to have athletes be at their best when their sport is in season.

“I observe how athletes respond to training,” he says. “We want to make sure they are not over-training so by the time they hit their in-season and playoff season, they are hitting their peak performances. So, we do a lot of modifications so we’re not getting athletes injured or sick.”

Berkley gets support from the school district to keep up with the latest technologies in strength and conditioning. One of the technologies used to help student-athletes train at Seguin High School is the Catapult One Sport GPS Tracker. The program involves athletes wearing a high-tech harness with a device that records their movements in practice and competition.

“It monitors throughout the game,” Berkley says of the tracking unit. “And that’s how we get real-time measurements on speed, workload, impacts, things of that nature to make sure that we prevent injuries and things like that for the athletes.”

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The measurements are seen by Berkley and Seguin High School coaches, and the results are then shared with the athletes. The sophisticated devices use GPS satellites to record player movements and can check vital stats like their heart rate during games and practices.

In addition to the physical nature of strength and conditioning, nutrition plays a role in developing Seguin Matador student-athletes. Berkley says he talks to athletes about what they eat and helps them plan their food intake to best benefit their individual goals.

“We have some athletes who are trying to gain weight and some who are trying to lose weight,” Berkley says. “So, I will sit down with an athlete and talk to them about what they are eating, and I’ll have them journal what they are eating for a week.”

Helping with muscle recovery also goes into keeping athletes in tip-top shape. Berkley works alongside Sarah Anderson, who leads the Seguin ISD student trainer staff, to help in that process.

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CONTINUED on pg. 22

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SQUIRREL TRAIL

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Totally Squirrelly Seguin!

The city of Seguin is now home to nine squirrels developed by the Seguin Commission on the Arts. The program promotes art in the community by bringing fiberglass squirrel statues to public places. The program was inspired by similar art initiatives, such as the one in San Marcos, where mermaids can be found throughout the historic downtown area and beyond.

The squirrels each have their own unique design and have been handpainted by local artists, with community members and businesses sponsoring each statue. So far, the project has been well-received by the locals and visitors, with community excitement surrounding the unveiling of each new piece.

As the art project continues into 2024, more squirrels are expected to pop up around town, but in the meantime, you can follow our official Seguin Today Squirrel Map to find and visit your favorite squirrels.

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JANUARY

Upcoming events and special promotions happening locally!

To promote your event on this page contact advertising at 830-379-2234 or email communitycalendar@kwed1580.com

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FeaturedEvents Events Featured

January 15

January 25

January 30

The City of Seguin is now accepting applications for the Business Improvement Grant (BIG) Program. Applicants may be eligible to receive up to a 75% matching grant, with a maximum grant awarded to an applicant not to exceed $10,000.

Improvements and other expenditures eligible under the program include facade improvements, sign improvements and more. Guidelines and applications are available online at www.SeguinTexas. gov. For more information, visit www.

SeguinEDC.com, or call 830-401-2476.

The Guadalupe County Republican Women will have its January Luncheon/ Meeting at 11:30 Thur, Jan. 25 at the Seguin Silver Center. The meeting will feature a program on national security and terrorism law with Retired Lt. Col. Jeffrey Addicott. The program is free and the cost of the meal is $15 with reservations to Glenda Layton by calling or texting 830-391-3979. For more information, visit https://www. guadalupe-county-rw.com.

The Seguin Public Library will host its Teen Tuesday at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan 30 featuring a Smash Tournament.

Teens ages 12 - 17 can drop in anytime between 4 and 5:30pm on Tuesdays to hang out, play games, use makerspace supplies, draw, and more. Call 830-4012422 or visit www.library.seguintexas. gov for additional information.

Business Improvement Grant

Final Call for Indigenous Artist The Teatro De Artes De Juan Seguin and the City of Seguin seeks to commission a professional Indigenous artist to design and create a visual art and/or mixed media art creation which must be able to travel to educational, city, business, nonprofit spaces, etc. for the National Endowment for the Arts Our Town Seguin project. The deadline to apply is Tuesday, Jan. 30. For more detailed information and to apply, visit www.teatrodeartes.org.

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Republican Women Luncheon

Teen Tuesday Drop In

January 31

February 8

March 8

The Seguin Area Chamber of Commerce will have a Women’s Council Luncheon with doors opening at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 31 in the upstairs classroom, located at 1215 E. Court St. in Seguin. There will be a lunch and a Women’s Mental Health Discussion Panel. The cost is $10. Seating is limited and RSVP is required by visiting www. seguinchamber.com/events.

The Seguin Area Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Showcase Seguin 2024 Business Expo: Business in Toyland from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8 at the Seguin Coliseum, located at 950 S. Austin St. in Seguin. Admission is free and registration is required. Residents are encouraged to come check out the event for fun and to learn more about businesses in Seguin. For more information, call 830-379-6382.

The Seguin Area Chamber of Commerce Leadership Seguin will have its Swing for Seguin Golf Tournament beginning with registration at 8 a.m. on Friday, March 8 at Starcke Park Golf Course.

The fee is $500 per team of four. All proceeds will benefit the Walnut Spring Park near downtown Seguin. To register or sponsor, call 830-379-6382 or email leadershipseguin24@gmail.com.

Women’s Council Luncheon

Showcase Seguin Business Expo

Swing for Seguin

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Game Day Day Game

DIY: Recipe to Try

Delight!

INGREDIENTS Serves 4

LOADED BEEF NACHOS For taco seasoning: Stir paprika, garlic powder, cumin, onion powder, chili powder, oregano, and salt together in a small bowl; set aside.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat; cook and stir ground beef in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in onion and green pepper; cook and stir with oil and juices from browned meat until much of the liquid has evaporated, about 2 minutes more.

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Stir 1/2 can diced tomatoes with chilies and Mexican-style corn into skillet. Season beef mixture to taste with prepared taco seasoning mix.

Stir together the remaining 1/2

can diced tomatoes with chilies and refried beans in a microwavesafe bowl. Microwave on high until heated through, stirring every 30 seconds, 1 to 3 minutes.

To assemble nachos: Lay half of tortilla chips in a single layer on a microwave-safe plate, then drop teaspoons of refried beans onto chips, followed by meat mixture and shredded cheese. Repeat with remaining chips, beans, meat, and cheese to make a second layer.

Microwave on high until cheese is melted and nachos are warm, 2 to 3 minutes. Top with sour cream, salsa, olives, jalapeños, and green onion as desired.

Taco Seasoning: 5 tspn paprika 1 1/4 tspn garlic powder 1 1/4 tspn ground cumin 1 1/4 tspn onion powder 1 tspn chili powder 1 tspn oregano leaves 1 1/2 tspn salt Nachos: 2 tbsp vegetable oil 1 pound ground beef 1 cup diced onion 1 cup diced green bell pepper 1 10-oz diced tomatoes with green chiles 1 15-oz can Mexican-style corn (optional) 1 16-oz can refried beans 1 cup shredded Cheddar chees 4 oz tortilla chips, or as needed Toppings (optional): 1/2 cup sour cream (optional) 1/2 cup salsa (optional) 1/4 cup sliced black olives (optional) 1/4 cup sliced jalapeños (optional) 1/4 cup green onion

COLUMN: This 6 Weeks

MAXIMIZE MAXIMIZE

Your Kid’s

Wellness Story by Laura Patranella Photos by Lizz Daniels

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he new year is upon us. Full of hope and resolution, maybe some new workout equipment and a commitment to eating healthier, or maybe a new hobby. And while resolutions are fun, they also tend to be fleeting: Most people abandon their resolutions by February or March, less than a quarter of the way through the new year.

When the exhaustion of health and wellness kicks in, it’s easy to shove the dumbbells in the closet, and it’s even easier to go to Whataburger for dinner. But you know what isn’t so easy to get rid of ? Your children. And it’s also never too late to commit your limited time and energy to raising confident and loving kids.

This is especially critical between birth and 5, when a child’s emotional, social, and cognitive growth is happening in leaps and bounds.

In these early years, one million new neural connections are made every second! Our children are building the brain power that will propel them through kindergarten right before our eyes.

MAXIMIZE LOVE, MANAGE STRESS One of the most important things we can do to help our children reach their fullest potential is to provide kind and responsive caregiving.

This forms a “secure attachment” between the infant and parent because the child knows and trusts that they can rely on the adult to meet their needs.

Stress is a normal part of life, and it’s important that young children experience some amount of stress so that they can learn how to cope in a healthy way. Researchers consider events like

scraping a knee, or falling on the playground to be forms of “positive stress” because they activate the parts of the brain that must develop in order to handle inevitable hardships in life.

However, research also shows that when children grow up in homes with chronic stress and high levels of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) it effects the formation of brain structures and can lead to lifelong struggles with relationships, their ability to learn, and managing emotions.

High levels of stress during childhood, in the form of emotional, physical, and substance abuse, and household challenges like divorce, incarceration, and mental illness have all been linked to chronic disease, alcohol and drug abuse, poor maternal health, and poor mental health in adulthood.

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STRATEGIES TO MAXIMIZE LOVE AND MANAGE STRESS Big goals can feel so intimidating on a daily basis, especially when we care so much about the outcome. But as the saying goes: The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Try these routines from The Basics to strengthen your relationship and build your child’s ability to manage stress: • Describe Other People: While reading, at the park, or watching TV- bring awareness to other people and children by describing their feelings and behavior. (“Emory is smiling because she caught the ball.”)

• Put Words to Feelings: Pay attention to your child’s sounds, movements, and facial expressions. Put words to their feelings, preferences, and needs. (“You were scared when the dog barked.”) With older toddlers, act out different emotions for your child to guess.

Pretend you are happy, sad, excited, or tired. Have them take a turn too!

• Praise Effort: Encourage your child when they try something new or difficult. Instead of doing it for them, help them just enough so they can be successful.

Then praise their effort until they succeed.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR This Six Weeks is a column brought to you

by Seguin ISD once a six weeks to offer advice in helping your students succeed.

Laura Patranella has 9 years of teaching experience in elementary and middle school, most recently as a dyslexia specialist. She has a master's in elementary education from Texas State University, and loves to RV with her family.

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REFRESH YOUR FEED “The information you consume each day is the soil from which your future thoughts are grown.”-James Clear, author, Atomic Habits Social media is a fun way to unwind, and it’s also a necessity to keep up with school and community events.

Add some parenting experts to your feed and become a more confident parent: • Dr. Becky Kennedy: On Instagram: drbeckyatgoodinside. ‘Dr. Becky’ is a family psychologist who has three rules: “no fluff, never any judgement, always practical and actionable.” Her podcast and book, both titled Good Inside, feature great interviews and resources for understanding yourself and your kids.

• Dr. Mona: On Instagram: pedsdoctalk. Focused on child health, development, and parenting, Dr. Mona’s Instagram account and podcast add humor to the overwhelming task of early childhood parenting.

• Nedra Tawwab: On Instagram: nedratawwab. Nedra is a therapist and best-selling author dedicated to offering straight-forward advice on family dynamics, setting boundaries, and healthy relationships. She also hosts a podcast, You Need To Hear This.

NEVER TOO EARLY, NEVER TOO LATE As parents, we strive to set good examples for our kids, and we experience unrelenting pressure from society to be a “good parent,” find time for ourselves, a career, and friendships. But admidst the chaos, the bond and love we have with our children and family is the most important thing for ourselves and our kids.

In 2024, let’s remember a few things: Noone parents perfectly, and we all need help to get through it, but our kids are the future, our hope, and our greatest investment. Every day is the perfect time to try again. •

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Strength & Conditioning

CONTINUED...

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“I’ll talk to the training staff if maybe (an athlete) needs an extra ice bath or more time with the trainers to help their muscles recover,” Berkley said.

Having a training staff and a strength and conditioning program is something more and more high schools are offering to their student-athletes.

In the past, outside of lifting weights and running, students were mostly left on their own to monitor their conditioning. Berkley says there has been a shift over the last few years for schools to be more proactive when it comes to student-athlete strength and conditioning.

“About seven percent of high school athletes actually go on to play at the collegiate level. And a major part of that is your strength and conditioning,” Berkley says. “I think most schools want to try to help student-athletes earlier rather than waiting until they get to college because in most instances, for those young men and women who go to college without a great (high school) strength and conditioning program, they’re behind their peers. So, over the last four to five years I say there’s been a bigger call or a bigger influence for that to happen.”

The strength and conditioning program offers a head start for athletes who want to compete on the next level. As the head of the program at Seguin High School, Berkley offered the habit-forming advice he gives to his students to those who want to get a start on their own conditioning program or have already started one.

“I would say it’s more of a lifestyle. Just day by day, the more that you commit to it, the more that you dedicate yourself to it, the easier that it gets,” Berkley says. “The more your confidence grows with it, you start to see your goals come to fruition. And that’s what I love the most about working with athletes. I see them at their starting points and then we get them to a point where you see their bodies start to mature. You see them start to build selfconfidence and start to conquer things that might have held them back in the past because of the resiliency they’ve built from working out.”

Through his career in the military and in education, Berkley has traveled from his native Virginia to Georgia, Missouri, and other parts of Texas.

Teaching and working with Matador athletes over the last seven years, Berkley says he likes being in a community like Seguin.

“I enjoy the hometown feel,” he said. “It actually reminds me of the small town that I grew up in Virginia. So, when I first came here, it sort of felt like home. Knowing that I did not want to move back to Virginia, I decided to stay here. So, I really enjoy Seguin.”

Coming to Seguin after serving for more than two decades in the Army, Coach “Berk” continues in his service to help young men and women get stronger.

“I’m just here for the students.” •

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