Navy SEALs are trained to be the best of the best in U.S. military personnel.
Whether its in combat or at a naval base, SEALs must be extremely mentally and physically fit.
The training it takes to become a Navy SEAL includes a 25-week program at the Naval Special Warfare Center at Coronado, Calif.
Thanks in partnership to the National High School Coaches Association, students at Montezuma-Cortez High School and Cortez Middle School got a taste of what Navy SEAL training is like.
M-CHS head football coach Chuck Cotter was informed about the Navy SEAL Fitness Challenge through the NHSCA and put in his schools information. By surprise, M-CHS was selected and Navy SEAL Chief Dan Hathorn, stationed out of Virginia Beach, Va., was welcomed to Cortez.
Believe it or not, I had to look up on a Google map where Cortez was, Hathorn, who grew up in upstate New York, said. Im trying to do my travel and theres only certain flights that come into Cortez. Im like, man! All right, this is going to go one of two ways. Im either going to show up and its going to be a really good event, or Im going to show up and Im going to have one kid.
The Navy SEAL Fitness Challenge at the Cortez Recreation Center on Monday afternoon saw plenty of eager M-CHS and some CMS students. M-CHS coaches and staff were on hand to help out.
The Navy SEAL Fitness Challenge is a chain of physical fitness events with 10-minute recovery intervals. Athletes maximize their performance in individual strength and endurance tests. The challenges were swimming, pushups, sit-ups, pull-ups, and a 1.5-mile run. The Navy SEAL Fitness Challenge resembles that of an initial SEAL physical screening test, but high school students arent expected to meet those SEAL standards.
We have a great relationship with NHSCA. They put us in contact with different coaches and stuff like that, Hathorn said. This is probably one of the better venues Ive been to.
The challenge began with the swimming event. Each participant had to swim 10 laps in 12 minutes 30 seconds to meet the challenge. Next were the pushup and sit-up challenges. For pushups, one person had to lay a flat fist on the ground and the individual doing pushups had to touch the fist with his or her chest, in order for a full pushup to count. The goal amount of pushups was 42, and 60 for sit-ups. The individual sit-up required the feet to be closed together, with hands and arms crossed in front.
Next was the pull-up challenge. The minimum goal was six, and the chin had to be fully above the bar. M-CHS student Christian Burnhan did 14 to win the challenge.
The final event was the 1.5-mile run through Parque de Vida. The goal was to finish the run in less than 11 minutes, and M-CHS basketball standout Jay Rainer did it in less than 10 minutes, crossing the finish line first.
The kids were super motivated, Hathorn said. They did an awesome job. I had a bunch of girls show up, and I like seeing that. My goal is to come back for the fall semester or in a year or something, to see how theyre doing, see where theyre at.
After the Navy SEAL Fitness Challenge was complete, everyone headed back the rec center pool and Hathorn gave a motivational talk and answered questions. He also presented a group coin to the groups top performers. Amanda Chappell and Colton Martin received coins for the girls and boys groups.
Hathorn spoke about his days of military combat and some of the injuries hes encountered, as well as being a college hockey player. Students asked questions about the Navy and about Hathorns experience as a SEAL. Hathorn was already in the military when he decided on his ultimate goal of becoming a SEAL.
Cotter feels Hathorns visit couldnt have come at a better time with the inspirational work the SEALs have done to capture and kill Osama bin Laden, the al-Qaida leader and mastermind behind the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
We talk a lot with our kids about mind-set and mental toughness, and the aspect of doing your best, Cotter said. You dont have to be the best athlete in the world to get everything out that you can get. (Were) just real fortunate to have him come down. I think its a great opportunity, and maybe someone will build on it.
In addition to challenging physical fitness and motivation, Hathorn said the Navy SEAL Fitness Challenge teaches awareness about the Navy and the rest of the U.S. military.
The game of special warfare we are who we are and were not doing this with everyone, he said. I tell my story, that I found out (I wanted to be a Navy SEAL) in boot camp. Were trying to eliminate that. We dont want a guy that is super motivated ... to wait until he gets to the recruiting station to find out or until he gets to boot camp to find out about certain programs.
Reach Bobby Abplanalp at [email protected].
