WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) — You've seen them at Gordon Straley Field, but you might not have seen select members of the West Lafayette High School Football team here.
“We've been in here 6 days a week...every week. So I mean we haven't missed a day and we get in here as often as we can,” said former Quarterback Kyle Adams.
Welcome to The Red Devil Workout shed. Even though the West Lafayette High School gym is closed amid the pandemic, a group of six current and former RDP football players gather daily for weights.
Former Cornerback Tyler Boyle hosts the group out of his grandfather's backyard shed.
“This was here about 5 years ago. He moved it in because he's big into working out," said Boyl earlier this week. "We were like: you know we can meet in a field and do some body weight stuff or you know I got this place over here if you wanna lift some weights. You know so its obviously not perfect, but it's better than what most people had [during quarantine].”
Not ideal, but functional. James Madison Signee Kyle Adams says there's a whole lot to do inside.
“There's a little squat rack, leg press, plenty of dumbbells...it goes up to like 80 pounds so it's enough to work with. It's plenty compared to what a lot of people have during [quarantine]," said Adams.
It may be a tight squeeze inside...but sanitation isn't a problem. Equipment is wiped down between each workout.
Adams and fellow D-1 signee Harrison Truitt (Miami, OH) say they complete a combination of guided workouts and their own sets. The focus has been to stay healthy, even when access to normal equipment is restricted.
“Weight is weight. It doesn't have to be a dumbbell. It could be a chair, it could be a backpack with books, it doesn't matter...you know...just, you have to go out there and get the work in,” said Truitt
Adams offered advice to those who have been unable to return to their normal workout facility due to the pandemic.
“My main word of advice is do whatever you can with whatever you can. Whether it be just a gallon filled with water or some rocks, or big tree trunks….just find anything. Curl it, press it...move it anyway, shape, or form,”said Adams, before his daily workout in the shed.
The Red Devil workout shed is open for business, but there's still no word on how to sign up for a membership.
