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The Mount Vernon Mountaineers had a couple of athletes missing from their summer workouts. But those absences were approved by the coaching staff.
For Mount Vernon seniors Patrick Lester and Justin Maples, their summer wasn’t filled with trips to the lake and time off, they were working hard at basic training.
“Wake up at 4:30, get ready for first formation at 5:00. Then go do PT, eat breakfast, go train, eat lunch, go train, eat dinner, then get ready for bed.” said Lester.
“I didn’t think it was going to be that hard but those early mornings and late nights wear on you a little bit.” said Maples.
But it was something that they had always wanted to do.
“I’ve wanted to be an American soldier ever since I knew what an American soldier was.” said Maples.
“Me and Justin have been talking about it since we were in the third grade.” said Lester.
The soldiers were at basic training in Fort Leonard Wood for ten weeks and got back just in time for football season.
“I went up to see their graduation from Fort Leonard Wood and they came back and they had to have a practice on that day to get all 14 days in.” said Tom Cox, head football coach for Mount Vernon. “So they came in that night after being in camp all summer and got one conditioning in and then we practiced on Saturday and Sunday and then the next Saturday and Sunday and all throughout the weeks and got their 14 in and were ready for the first game.”
They say the lessons learned at basic training have even helped on the field.
“They teach us strength, and to keep going even when you want to quit.” said Lester.
“The worst thing you can do in a combat situation is freeze. Because in those situations you need everyone to be on their game, and coming back during football, with everyone yelling at you, it is no different.” said Maples.
“We felt the life lessons and the opportunities they had to serve far exceeded anything we were doing on the football field.” said Cox.
Next fall the two plan to head to Advanced Individual Training which is the next step after basic training.
