Folsom focuses on Olympic lifts in weight room

Paul Doherty has a passion for coaching football, but any player who has ever played for him knows he also has a passion for the weight room. Folsom High's varsity football head coach will tell anyone who will listen to him the importance of strength and conditioning training, and his players know this all too well. Just like they are evaluated on the playing field, they're also evaluated in the weight room. In fact, a good way for a player to find himself on the field is to be a standout in the weight room. "Big time universities invest tons of money in weight rooms and strength and conditioning facilities for a reason," Doherty said. "First and foremost is injury prevention. Lifting weight keeps athletes healthy and on the field. Just like lifting can strengthen soft tissue muscles, it can also strength tendons and ligaments. Secondly, there is the sport performance side. There is tons of science behind it; Olympic lifting develops strength and endurance. The lifts we focus on: snatch, clean, jerk and squat, are ground-based lifts and connected to athletic movements. The front squats I'm always talking about; the guys love them. They're tough, grueling. Wear your hard hat when you're coming to do some front squats." Among the team's top performers in the weight room is senior running back and linebacker Lucas Jorge, and junior wide receivers Lucas Wolfe and Justin Arnaz. "I do enjoy weight lifting; it's where coach evaluates us," Wolfe said. "He's always talking about front squats because he's a long-time weightlifting coach and that's how he motivates us. Lifting makes you stronger, and does help you on the field with tackling. Overall, it makes you bigger, stronger and faster. Why wouldn't you lift weights if you play football?" Jorge began doing the Olympic lifts two years ago when Doherty officially joined the coaching staff. "I enjoy lifting and think it's a lot of fun," Jorge said. "It translate a lot to the field and not just in strength but the technique. It gives you the mental fortitude to apply yourself on the field because a lot of the lifting is purely technique. The snatch is pretty crazy. You can be stronger than someone, but they can lift a lot more than you because they have better technique." Jorge has gained about 30 pounds since his freshman year. He's a senior now and he's looking forward to a big final season as a running back and linebacker for the Bulldogs "I really excited and hopeful for the team that we go far and do well, because I think we can," Jorge said. Arnaz placed seventh last year in the USA Nationals Weight Lifting competition in Anaheim. He enjoys the clean and jerk the most. "Lifting makes me more explosive, quicker, stronger … everything," Arnaz said. "I get bigger legs and can break more tackles. I get stronger and it's easier for me to block. I also like lifting because it gives me something to do while I'm waiting for the season." Like all the players on the team, Arnaz is looking forward to playing football this season. "I'm very excited for the season," Arnaz said. "I know big things are coming. We have (quarterback) Ari (Patu) and he can do a lot of things."