The VertiMax, a relatively new complete body workout machine, looks more like a ground pulley system than a machine that relies on resistance to maximize athletes' speed and vertical leap.  The machine, however, has definitely won over three area coaches.  "It's phenomenal," Gering football coach Tom O'Boyle said. "It's the best thing for athletes that I've seen in 24 years as a teacher and coach."  Also count Scottsbluff boys basketball coach Joe Liebentritt among those giving the machine a thumbs up.  "I've never been a big fan of how much a person could bench or squat," he said.  Over the last few years the VertiMax has been more prominent in weight rooms across America. Now, it's making its way into the Panhandle.  The basic principle behind the VertiMax is that it develops an athlete's ability to generate force quicker which improves power and thus speed and vertical jump ability.  "The VertiMax builds a type of explosive power that translates more effectively from the weight room to the field of play," Liebentritt said, "our athletes are just doing everything faster and better in games". And it does a great job of training players in how to jump quickly and effectively."  The VertiMax was at Scottsbluff High School before Liebentritt came to coach last year, so he searched for information about the machine from his friend Chris Carlise, head strength and conditioning coach of football at the University of Southern California.  Carlise, a Chadron State College graduate, told Liebentritt he is moving his program toward using a lower resistance coupled with high repetitions to build strength that is quick, but also controlled.  O'Boyle said the machine's biggest asset is its versatility.  "The system is designed to build balance and core strength and the best thing about it is that it's not designed for one sport," he said. "It basically just builds a better athlete in any sport."

 

O'Boyle said an average workout usually lasts about 18 minutes. It has become an essential part of training for Gering athletes.  "You could take most of our free weights out of here, but not the VertiMax," he said. "I think it's the smartest thing we've done for our athletes."  Gering currently has two VertiMax systems, which arrived in March.  "Football isn't the only sport that's using them, though," O'Boyle said. "Every student and every athlete in this building is going to get the chance to strap in and get on this machine."  Gering's VertiMax machines focus mainly on working athletes' lower bodies. Normal exercises include leg kicks, jumping and a squat lift. Although there are different types of VertiMax machines, Gering uses the system that has four cords. The cords are attached to the athletes' hands from the floor up and then the legs are attached from the waist down. The athlete then has the option to do many different exercises, but the main idea behind the VertiMax is to build speed and vertical leaping ability.  O'Boyle first saw the VertiMax system in action at Grand Island High School. He said he was skeptical at first, but once he saw how athletes reacted after using the machine he was sold.  "They were just beat," he said. "I needed to see that reaction to know that this thing was for real."

Derek Deaver, offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for Scottsbluff High School, said the machines work well for his linemen.  "I think it's kind of a revolutionary idea and the kids like it and seem to believe in it," Deaver said. "I feel it's a good way to get the kids together and have them work out and we get great usage out of it."  The VertiMax training system was first introduced in the US in 1997. Since then, even more sophisticated VertiMax units have been developed and more and more elite athletic teams across the country are using it. Three of the four teams that participated in the NCAA Men's Final Four this year use the system and three of the four teams in the Women's Final Four use it as well.  The VertiMax system seems to be a successful tool in almost any athletic landscape, but Deaver is most impressed with the reactions he sees.  "[The system] literally transformed my athletes into better athletes in one month and it can't hurt the athletes.  I think it's always great to get the kids together, have fun and just work out and VertiMax has been a great catalyst for that." Deaver said.