Anna McCluskey ’25
Staff Writer
mccluskeya@lakeforest.edu
The spring is a time for winter athletes to finally get a break after the long season, but it is also a critical time to take advantage of off-season training. Lake Forest’s athletes are very fortunate to be able to work out with coach Andrew Parker in the off-season, which helps them develop themselves better as both athletes and people.
Coach Parker has an impressive educational background, having received his master’s degree in sport and fitness management from Winthrop, and his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology with a focus on fitness development from State University of New York at Cortland. He is also a registered strength and conditioning coach and an NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. Parker had experience at Hartwick College in Oneonta, New York, before coming to Lake Forest, and even earned himself Hartwick’s Paul Spaziani Special Recognition Award for making a significant impact in the operations of the athletic program, as well as an award from the school’s SAAC for significant impact on the student-athlete experience. It is safe to say Coach Parker has also made a large impact here, helping athletes to develop their game.
When athletes’ seasons end, Coach Parker typically grants them a couple of weeks to rest and recover, but quickly gets them back in the gym to stay in shape. Parker stresses the importance of skill development and physical conditioning in the off-season, and makes sure to push athletes. He designs specific workouts for each athletic team, ensuring that each program benefits the specific sport. In the off-season, he typically encourages athletes to use higher weights and provides a plan with higher reps compared to in-season to build strength.
Athletes feel the benefits of the structured program that he provides. Ethan Karabanow, a sophomore from Men’s Basketball notes “He helps you gain muscle while also ensuring that we maintain flexibility. He’s the best. We will come out stronger for next season because of Parker.” Athletes feel that Coach Parker not only helps people with their physical game, but also with the mental side. Sophie Chapman, a junior from Women’s Hockey said “Coach Parker is has helped me during the off-season by pushing me to work as hard as I possibly can, while also motivating me a ton.” By doing this, Coach Parker makes her believe in not only herself, but also her teammates in the sense that they have an infinite potential to better themselves for next season.
Coach Parker has been an amazing addition to Lake Forest College and the work he is doing with teams in the off-season is critical. His off-season training is not only beneficial to athletes physically, but also mentally. It will be exciting to see the impact Parker has on making teams feel stronger and more prepared for their upcoming seasons.
