If effort coupled with condition and desire are key building blocks of a football team, Thompson Falls appears to be, no pun intended, good shape.

The Blue Hawks are wrapping up volunteer summer conditioning opportunities this week as their Aug. 30 opener against the Conrad Cowboys looms on the horizon. 

T Falls opens the 2024 11-player campaign in Conrad against the same team they beat 20-14 in their home opener last season at Previs Field in Thompson Falls. 

To keep their edge and upward climb in the standings in their third season playing Class B-11 football, a dedicated group of players has been attending the volunteer conditioning sessions at the school’s well-equipped weight room 

On Mondays, those in attendance head to the field for some no pads, seven-on-seven mostly passing drills to keep their minds and bodies on football. 

“We have been having a pretty good turnout,” said head coach Jared Koskela, who led the Hawks to the Montana State Class B-8 player title in 2021.  “It is good to see the guys come out and put in the work”. 

With the prospect of moving into a new, larger and better equipped weight room in the school later this year or earlier next year, the Hawks are hoping to get “bigger, stronger and faster” according to the players. 

“As a lineman I know how important it is to get stronger,” said Jacob Wood, in between bench press reps with a dozen other players. “I like lifting, it makes me feel stronger”. 

That sentiment was echoed by junior Sarah Koskela, a standout athlete and top player on the Lady Hawks state qualifying softball team. 

“It is good to keep in shape,” she said. “It makes me feel good to get in here and lift”. 

Offensive lineman/linebacker Jesse Buchanan said he likes working out because of the way it makes him feel. 

“I feel like I’m getting stronger and faster, it makes me feel better,” Buchanan said. “It is also good to see teammates who feel the same way.  It makes me feel good about the team”. 

The Monday afternoon workouts that are followed by the seven-on-seven drills are a good way to see how that conditioning is helping the team as well as get a look at players and what position they may be playing this coming year, coach Koskela said.  

“It’s a good way to keep the players in shape and keep the game in their thoughts”, Koskela said. “There’s been a good core of guys attending these workouts”. 

T Falls finished the 2023 season with a 3-7 mark, including home wins over Conrad and Anaconda, and a road victory at Whitehall.  They open their home season September 6 when they host Joliet in T Falls.

    Kaiden Robins, a quarterback prospect for this year's Blue Hawks team releases a pass downfield during a summer workout and conditioning session at the school. (Chuck Bandel/VP-MI)
  

    Junior Sarah Koskela works out in the weight room at T Falls High getting ready for the upcoming high school sports season. (Chuck Bandel/VP-MI)
  

    Offensive lineman Jacob Wood works on his overall strength and conditioning during a voluntary conditioning session this past week at Thompson Falls HIgh. (Chuck Bandel/VP-MI)