Jim O’Neill ’06

W.M.U.

Strength training and sports go hand in hand in today’s world of athletics; the simple fact is, if an athlete is not lifting weights all year round (even in-season), they are putting themselves and their team at a significant disadvantage against better prepared opponents.

That’s why the Iron Pirate Strength & Conditioning program and Coach O’Neill are so crucial to the success of athletes at Grand Haven High School and beyond. His program, which I took part in during my four years at Grand Haven, developed my speed, strength and overall athletic ability to the best that it could possibly be, culminating in multiple offers for full scholarships from Division 1 colleges. Without this program and the benefits I reaped from it, there is no way I would

have ever been able to perform at my highest possible levels.

Almost as bad as not weight training is having a coach who doesn’t know what he is doing or a system that’s poorly run or doesn’t benefit the athlete.

At Grand Haven, athletes won’t have that problem. Coach O’Neill and the Iron Pirate Training System is the best possible combination of coach and program for an athlete to have; a great program run by a great coach.

Emma Veach ’08

G.V.S.U.

The weight lifting program that is run at Grand Haven is phenomenal.

After participating in the workouts I not only felt stronger, I felt faster and more balanced.

Coach O'Neill provides an all around workout that is personalized for you and your sport and makes the athletes you compete against seem weak.

After lifting all summer with the program before my freshman year of college basketball, strength wise I was able to compete collegiately.

Better strength helps with performance and helps to avoid injuries.

The harder you work, the more you'll get out of it.

Phil Swanson ’06

W.M.U.

Iron Pirates has evolved into something special.

Walking into the weight room and seeing freshman, boys and girls, doing proper power cleans is a sight to behold.

For me, the program provided the tools to succeed on the field.

The Iron Pirate program was the difference between getting a scholarship and paying for my school.

Obviously weightlifting is only part of a much larger equation en route to athletic success, but it is invaluable.

More than my own success though, it has changed the culture surrounding Grand Haven athletics. No longer do kids see the weight room as a burden between practices and games. These kids are excited to work out,

excited to get better, and most importantly are seeing results. I’m just proud I can say I was one of the first members of this program.