Adam Lederer, a member of both the SAIT cross country team and the curling club, does some running on the Trojans Soccer Field on March 16. ASHLI BARRETT PHOTO

With the end of the winter term fast approaching, the SAIT Trojans have wrapped up competition for the year, and are already hard at work for their next season.

The athletes have been training throughout the year to reach their maximum potential and become the best at what they do, a process that doesn’t stop in the off-season.

Other than regular team practices during the year, each athlete has access to the Peak Power gym, located in the Campus Centre basement, near the SAIT gymnasium.

Fitness instructors at Peak Power work athletes during the off-season, supplying them with a tight regimen that allows top physical form for the upcoming season.

“We get a workout plan from Peak Power that we are supposed to follow, and we try to work out two to three times a week at the very least,” said Trojans women’s volleyball team member Robyn Froese.

As with any organized sport, coaches expect full commitment from their team. There is no slacking-off during the off-season. Athletes are expected to keep up their fitness level over the summer months, and be in peak condition for September.

“Art O’Dwyer wants us to maintain the same fitness level that we were in when we stopped playing, so we can be as competitive in the league as possible,” said Emily Krywitsky, regarding her coach for the women’s volleyball team.

During the summer, most athletes have their own ways of keeping up their game, especially since some of them leave Calgary and to go back home.

“If people leave, it’ll be up to them to work out,” said Krywitsky. “It’s funny because you lose your skill pretty quickly if you don’t play at all, so when you come back [you can be] a bit sloppy and uncoordinated.”

Since there is a lot depending on the Trojans to step up their game next year, their work-out regimens have been designed to be more intense than they have been in the years prior.

“Since we made provincials this year, we obviously want to do better and starting the season where we left off will be crucial,” said Krywitsky.

With a stricter work-out plan than what was implemented last year, the teams will boost up their over-all physique, and bring more to the table during games.