Returning to Harker’s lineup of summer sports camps after a successful first year, the TRX training camp offered middle and high school students the chance to learn several new fitness techniques and train for the upcoming school sports season. TRX is a suspension training system developed by Navy SEALs that utilizes the practitioner’s body weight and can be fine-tuned to each user’s needs and specifications. The highly portable training system helps develop strength, endurance and a solid core.

Camp director Karriem Stinson, Harker middle school athletics director and certified TRX group instructor, said that he has seen massive improvement in the students who were new to the camp. “We’ve had some kids that come in here [who] couldn’t even do a plank for 25 seconds, and now I’ve got kids who are doing planks for a minute,” he said. “The kids are responding to what the training’s doing for them.”

Stinson also noted that at least one student reported having been accepted to a varsity sports team, and said that she could not have done so without her TRX training.

Hockey enthusiast and rising Harker eighth grader Andrew Skrobak found TRX helpful as well. “I don’t get knocked off the puck as easily,” he said.

Ellie Olsen, who is entering grade 7 at Campbell Christian, credited TRX with helping prepare her for soccer competition. “It strengthens my legs a lot more,” she said, noting that the she also found the exercises fun.