Another in a continuing series of Q & A interviews with Trinity faculty, staff and administrators.

Much goes into running a successful athletic program at any school or university, or on the professional level.  Almost every sport involves conditioning and strength training. The person in charge of that for Trinity is Mr. Mike Snyder, Class of 2002. He became Trinity’s strength and conditioning coach in 2012.  Snyder, Kentucky State Director of the National High School Strength Coaches Association, was also named Region 7 Coach of the Year for NHSSCA. Coach Snyder spoke about his work in the Marshall Center.

Q: When did you begin working in the Marshall Center, and when did it open?

A: I began here the spring of 2012, around March. (The center) opened around ’98 or ’99. A lot of special athletes have come and gone throughout this unique program. I think the history alone keeps this whole place going for work outside the classroom and inside the gym.

Q: Why did you want this position?

A: I always was very interested in high school with physical activity, and it always stuck with me. Doing it for a living was just being at the right place, right time, and having the right approach.

Q: How do teams differ in the weight room?

A: The time, the time that each team is in here. For example, football is in here the most. The football team is here with me 11 out of 12 months. The number of state championships shows how much work is put in here.

Q: How important is weight conditioning in each sport?

A: For the high-intensity athletic program tempo we like to keep Trinity known for, I would say it is very important for any athlete, regardless of the sport. We want to compete at the highest level and keep the reputation we are known for.

Q: What is your favorite workout recovery process and why?

A: Sleep, plain and simple. Most teenage athletes do not get enough of it, and I see it in the workouts sometimes throughout my athletes. Stretching as well, before and after. Eating well, is a huge factor. Working out is only one part. Sleeping and what you’re putting into your body is as important.

Q: When is it a good age to begin weight conditioning?

A: There is a myth that if you start early then you will become taller. I think a good time would probably be mid-to-late middle school — with the proper movements. There are beginner movements and a little more experienced ones. Shouldn’t dive into the deep end when first learning to swim.

Q: Do you prefer machines or free weights?

A: Free weights. Machines are for more “special” movements. We usually stick to free weights when teams come in here, which helps a lot. We keep records — on stat sheets as well as a record board in the room, which you first see walking in.

Q: What is the best feature about the Marshall Center?

A: It is wide open; we have a lot of space to do a lot of movements. We also have a lot of racks, so we can have many teams and players in here at once.  There are usually three or four players per rack, but that is when it is the busiest in here. No one is ever sitting around in here.

Q: Anything you would add to the Marshall Center?

A: An indoor turf strip. We need space for extra movements. Certain movements where we cannot take what is indoor out onto the field, having it in here would be a lot more convenient.

Q: What changes can we expect to see in the Marshall Center?

A: We hope to have some technology in the future, to track players’ weights, times, and all athletic abilities/traits.  We are pretty much up to date on weights and the inside of the weight room itself. We have been blessed with this whole renovation recently.