On September 14, Athletics Director Lamar Reddicks announced a new athletic schedule and improved facilities. He is piloting new hours for the ACC, including 11 a.m.–5 p.m. on the weekends, opening the gym earlier during the week, and introducing early morning Darlings (athletic training) for off season varsity sports teams. In addition, the new updates include replacing outdated equipment.
Reddicks shared, “We added a new scoreboard to the football field” and “newer cameras to film and livestream games.” The addition of the latest scoreboard is a result of “the previous [scoreboard’s being] over 30 years old.” Meanwhile, “the new cameras will allow families who cannot make games in person to still watch their child play.”
Additionally, with the ultimate goal to improve students’ athletic experience here at Milton, Reddicks believes that “it is important for our kids to be able to have film if they want to send it to college coaches. I think the extended hours to the Fitness Center will allow for some athletes to have the afternoon free. With the extended morning hours it creates less people in the Fitness Center during peak times.”
Girls’ Varsity Basketball Player Chloe McLaughlin ’28 is “excited for the courts to be open for longer. It means more time to practice, and I am excited to take advantage of the extra hours going into basketball season.” Since these additions are new, McLaughlin notes that many people have yet to take advantage of the longer hours. However, players like McLaughlin appreciate the flexibility that comes with having the ACC open for longer.
Along with the new gym hours in the morning, Head Athletic Trainer Steve Darling has added a new session to his training program. He explained, “During my Spring Sabbatical, I spent some time visiting other schools and learned that many institutions allow their students to work out in the early morning hours before school starts, which is something we haven't allowed our students to do here at Milton.” The exposure to other schools’ athletic schedules influenced the decision for the early session.
Furthermore, Darling spoke with Milton students and coaches about shifting their training schedules, and most were excited about the opportunity. Through adding a third training session, he hopes “this would decrease the usual large number of students using the room before school, which can sometimes feel overwhelming.”
Violet Morash ’29 often goes to the gym after school during the winter and agrees as he explained, “It's extremely hard to find space to workout after school.” Darling feels the first sessions have gone well, reflecting “the specific groups I am working with have been great.”
Boys’ Basketball was the first team to partake in the new Darlings program; they lifted weights this past Tuesday and Thursday morning. Jake Stanger ’29 shared, “you have to be smart about when you go to bed, but it is fun.” Although the morning sessions have been directed towards team conditioning, Darling has noticed that other students, not involved in the specific programs, are also taking advantage of the new rules and working out on their own.
Upon reflecting on his future hopes for facilities improvement, Darling hopes for “a larger Fitness Center and potentially other wellness opportunities such as a yoga/pilates studio, a recovery room for athletes (cryotherapy) and possibly a second smaller fitness room for faculty and staff only.”
Again taking inspiration from other ISL schools’ progress in adapting their athletic facilities, Darling thinks “a new Wellness Center on campus would be amazing for the entire community and everyone would benefit. Many schools seem to be moving in this direction with tremendous success and I would love to see Milton follow a path in the same direction.”
Reddicks simply shared that there is “nothing in the immediate future, but hopefully something in the near future...stay tuned!”