Patriot Preparation: Record-setting number of students to attend summer conditioning

MISSION, Texas (ValleyCentral) — School may be out, but class is still in session at Mission Veterans.

On the agenda is strength and conditioning. And the numbers this year are record-breaking.

“Well, we have 354 today,” said David Gilpin, Mission Vets Athletic Coordinator/Football Coach. “Sam, we hit 365 last Thursday. We had 364 last Tuesday. So right now we're, you know, we're rolling in over 350.”   

Getting in shape is one aspect, but for athletes, it’s a chance to get a leg up on the competition.

"A lot of teams don't come out here during the summer, so I think we do get a bit of an extra step on them,” said Ryan Guerra, Mission Vets Senior. “You know, we come in here, we don't make no excuses. We just put our heads down and go to work.”

Kids could easily be sleeping, but the Patriots are putting in the work. A big reason why is the message from Coach David Gilpin.    

“I think it says a lot about our coach,” said Kellyanne Sosa, Mission Vets Senior. “He emphasizes is always talking to us about our mental toughness and always to keep going, even whenever we feel like we can't, to just keep going.”

Despite the different backgrounds and sports, everyone comes together for a common goal.

“I say one heartbeat means we're all the same, from the athletic coordinator to the third-string seventh-grade offensive lineman or third-string volleyball player,” said Gilpin. “We're all in this together. We're all trying to get better. We're all trying to win championships. That's what we're doing.”

17 years and going strong, there are no signs of slowing down at Mission Vets.