Central Valley's Trevor Mew, and Ceres High's Marcus Hilgen and Aron Mejia are just three of a legion of local prep athletes that have remained dedicated during the offseason.
"It's teaching us life skills," Mew said. "You have to work hard in everything you do."
"It's tiring, but it's fun," Hilgen said.
"We're having a good time," Mejia said. "We're getting to know each other better."
Koeurn Phe, first-year head coach of Ceres High's boys soccer program, has been holding non-mandatory practices on campus three times a week since the end of May.
"I opened it to everybody," he said. "It prepares them for tryouts. They get to see who they're competing against. I'm pleased with the way they responded."
Phe's training regimen includes pushups, leg raises, short sprints, distance running, scrimmages and penalty-kick shootouts.
Each session lasts two hours.
"He's getting us in shape," said Mejia, who also works out with Hugo Valadez and the under-17 Ceres Earthquakes competitive soccer club at the Ceres River Bluff Regional Park complex.
Hilgen devoted time to football and basketball.
"It cuts into your vacation," he said. "But you have to be there. You just got to stay committed and have a positive attitude. I don't have much to do anyway."
Ceres High's summer hoops season ended on June 25.
Hilgen starred at point guard for the Bulldogs, who won five of seven games in three days at Cal State Stanislaus to finish the year with a 13-9 record.
The following week, Marcus and his family traveled to San Francisco to watch their favorite team (Chicago Cubs) play against the Giants.
"It's a tradition," he said. "We've been going for 10 straight years now."
Hilgen will be the Bulldogs' go-to player this winter.
"It's a big honor," he said. "Hopefully, I can step up, please my coach and help my team win."
For football, Hilgen and his teammates lifted weights and executed conditioning drills four times a week, and participated in seven-on-seven passing scrimmages every so often.
Hilgen, a running back and safety, had a standout game during the Bulldogs' 48-30 win against visiting East Union on July 17. He scored three touchdowns.
Mew will start at quarterback for the third year in a row this fall.
"Sleep. Eat. Football. I don't have time for anything else," Trevor said. This is what it takes if you want to compete and be good. You get tired of it. But like it says on our T-shirts, 'Pain is temporary. Pride is forever.'"
Central Valley won all 20 of its passing league contests this summer.
Mew completed 163 of 207 of passes with 46 touchdowns in leading the Hawks to tournament titles at Modesto Junior College and Downey High School.
"It's teaching us life skills," Mew said. "You have to work hard in everything you do."
"It's tiring, but it's fun," Hilgen said.
"We're having a good time," Mejia said. "We're getting to know each other better."
Koeurn Phe, first-year head coach of Ceres High's boys soccer program, has been holding non-mandatory practices on campus three times a week since the end of May.
"I opened it to everybody," he said. "It prepares them for tryouts. They get to see who they're competing against. I'm pleased with the way they responded."
Phe's training regimen includes pushups, leg raises, short sprints, distance running, scrimmages and penalty-kick shootouts.
Each session lasts two hours.
"He's getting us in shape," said Mejia, who also works out with Hugo Valadez and the under-17 Ceres Earthquakes competitive soccer club at the Ceres River Bluff Regional Park complex.
Hilgen devoted time to football and basketball.
"It cuts into your vacation," he said. "But you have to be there. You just got to stay committed and have a positive attitude. I don't have much to do anyway."
Ceres High's summer hoops season ended on June 25.
Hilgen starred at point guard for the Bulldogs, who won five of seven games in three days at Cal State Stanislaus to finish the year with a 13-9 record.
The following week, Marcus and his family traveled to San Francisco to watch their favorite team (Chicago Cubs) play against the Giants.
"It's a tradition," he said. "We've been going for 10 straight years now."
Hilgen will be the Bulldogs' go-to player this winter.
"It's a big honor," he said. "Hopefully, I can step up, please my coach and help my team win."
For football, Hilgen and his teammates lifted weights and executed conditioning drills four times a week, and participated in seven-on-seven passing scrimmages every so often.
Hilgen, a running back and safety, had a standout game during the Bulldogs' 48-30 win against visiting East Union on July 17. He scored three touchdowns.
Mew will start at quarterback for the third year in a row this fall.
"Sleep. Eat. Football. I don't have time for anything else," Trevor said. This is what it takes if you want to compete and be good. You get tired of it. But like it says on our T-shirts, 'Pain is temporary. Pride is forever.'"
Central Valley won all 20 of its passing league contests this summer.
Mew completed 163 of 207 of passes with 46 touchdowns in leading the Hawks to tournament titles at Modesto Junior College and Downey High School.
