pushing past covid

It’s 5:15 a.m. on a cool September morning in Sioux Falls. The roads are quiet and empty as senior football player Mike Enalls drives to his morning workout. It’s still dark out as he parks his car, grabs his gear, and enters Forged Strength Gym. His eyes adjust to the brightness of the gym lights, a harsh contrast from the darkness of the parking lot, and he begins to warm up. Joining his workout partners in an unorganized semi-circle, they all begin to foam roll various parts of their bodies to help loosen their muscles for their workout. “Man, I’m sore,” Mike groans as he stretches out his hamstring. The others grunt and nod in agreement. Senior Mike Enalls at Forged Strength

As they finish their warm up they are greeted by the head strength coach at Forged who tells them what they will be doing that morning. Feeling ready to go, Mike lets out a yell: “time to work!” and with that the group begins their training. For the next hour and a half the gym is noisy as the sounds of weights clanking and boisterous words of encouragement are thrown around by the lifting group. When the session ends the gym goes quiet again as everyone funnels out the doors as the first rays of sunshine creep over the horizon. Mike sits down breathing hard with a smile on his face like it’s just another day at the office.

He explains why during this uncertain time he felt he had to see what Forged was all about. “Honestly, I had heard a lot of good things about this place from friends and old teammates. They talked about how it was like a family here and I wanted to see that for myself.” Even though it’s only been for a short time he can already see he has made the right choice. Since USF athletes aren’t able to workout at The Bubble it has made Mike truly appreciate his time so far at Forged. “I feel like my body is getting better. The first few days here were tough but I can already see the differences in my body. From building muscle to recovery this just helps me prepare for the season whenever that is and I’ll be ready to go.”

Student athletes’ lives are very structured during their time in college, but with Covid-19 changing all of that Mike has had to make adjustments. “Normally in the fall it’s football season, but since that’s been postponed I’ve had to find some silver linings in what’s happening. I’ve been able to spend more time with my friends and family and have picked up more shifts at work so I’ve just been trying to stay busy.”

As he settles into this new normal like all of us he’ll continue to work and persevere through the uncertainty that the coronavirus has brought and prepare himself for when he gets his opportunity to play on the field once again for the Coo.

““ They talked about how it was like a family here and I wanted to see that for myself.