Have you ever stopped to think about what some teachers do for our school besides teaching? Kyle Whitcher, South High’s Strength and Conditioning teacher is a great example of a teacher who sees this as more than just a job.
Whether it’s in the weight room, on the field, or the track, Whitcher does it all. He is known for his commitment to developing the physical skills, mental strength, and confidence these student-athletes need. Whitcher believes strength training is more than building muscle, it is about building confidence, and discipline
Whitcher started PAP (Patriot Athletic Performance) because he saw something the school’s athletic program was missing
“There was a void in terms of kids not lifting in the season and I think if you wanna have a successful athletic program and kids aren’t weight training that’s such a missing piece of development that’s easy to put into place,” Whitcher said.
Michael Smith, one of Whitcher’s students and football players shared that PAP helped with his speed, stamina, and strength.
“Without the help of Coach Whitcher I don’t think I would be able to achieve my goals in football and weight lifting as fast and safe,” Smith said.
Smith credits Whitcher for pushing him past his limits, talking about how Whitcher keeps it honest and never sugarcoats what he tells his students, further showing how he wants the best for them.
For Whitcher, the benefits go beyond just the paycheck.
“The most rewarding thing about being a strength coach is teaching kids how to be vulnerable in weird positions. You’ve gotta learn how to make your body do awkward things in front of other people and I think that builds a lot of confidence. It’s cool to watch kids grow,” he said.
He said he emphasizes that the confidence students gain in the weight room often extends into other areas of their lives.
Looking toward the future Whitcher has goals he wants to reach.
“I think if everyone knows how to properly squat and do an RDL, we can change the world,” he said. “It makes my life happier when people understand the posture hold position and how to brace their spine. It can really change someone’s life.”
Braiden Coleman, another of Whitcher’s students, said that PAP taught him new workouts to gain strength on top of the muscle he was working for and correct his form to avoid injury.
“Without PAP I think I could’ve gotten this far but not nearly as fast, because of Coach Whitcher’s help, I’ve avoided countless injuries and only gotten stronger,” Coleman said.
Whitcher’s dedication to his students and their progress has already shown in the incredible achievements made by his students. Whitcher explains some of his students’ achievements with pride
“Miles Mobley [’23 graduate] deadlifting over 600 pounds or multiple students squatting 500 pounds is impressive. But I get more validation out of people mastering and understanding the Olympic lifts, like snatches and clean and jerks because of how technical they are,” Whitcher said.
