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Early Bird Special: Taking the Court Before 7:30 Bell

Spanish teacher Eamon Griffin puts one up over assistant principal James Farnen. | Photo by Jake Reiner '14

Guidance counselor PJ Washenko steps into the Staples gymnasium on warm Friday morning. He’s wearing a white James Bond 007 T-Shirt, royal blue swimming trunks and Asics running sneakers. He greets the other faculty members — Ken Wood, James Farnen and Colin Devine — who are stretching their tight hamstrings and shooting necessary, pre-game jump shots.

The remaining three faculty members straggle in, a little late, but not enough to anger those on time. All of the teachers strap on their heart rate monitors and sync the corresponding watches. Teams are decided. Today’s game will be three on three, and like all others before it, full court. Welcome to faculty basketball: the a.m. workout edition.

“As much as I love it, getting up at a quarter to 5 to get here by 6 is a pain in the butt,” said Lenny Klein, the self-acclaimed Kemba Walker-esque point guard.

Klein, who is gregarious both inside and outside the math room, turns into a raging Rajon Rondo during the game.

“I don’t want to dis guys, but I am the best on the court,” Klein said.

Klein — though he may have what member and Spanish teacher Eamon Griffin calls an effective step back jumper — has a pass first, get the assist mentality.

He wants to win the game… and he lets the playing field know he is going to do just that.

“I’ll even use a math relationship to describe it: there’s a direct proportional relationship between how much he talks in the classroom and talks on the court,” Farnen said.

But for all of his smack talk, Gusitsch, Farnen, Washenko and Griffin all say Klein regularly backs it up on the court.

Klein, who generally plays only on Friday, the unanimously more competitive day, is ebullient about the games.

“The key is to ignore Mr. Klein. We call him the mouth of the south,” Wood said. “He talks an incredible amount for 6 a.m. Nonstop. He talks throughout the entire game.”

The basketball games — first created by Assistant Principal James Farnen in early March — may have become competitive, but their original purpose was to be a substitute for morning workouts in the fitness center.

“I was tired of doing the same old workout routine,” creator Farnen said. “So, I sent some emails around to see if anyone was interested in playing basketball.”

Since March, Farnen and other faculty play Wednesdays and Friday mornings at 6 a.m. in the gymnasium.

Member David Gusitsch suggested using heart rate monitors to track each player’s progress during the game.

“Everyone is out there to get in shape,” Washenko said.

The heart rate monitors can show the user’s minimum, maximum and average heart rate as well as what percentage of the user’s workout is spent in, above or below the target heart rate zone — roughly between 125 and 175 beats per minute.

Gusitsch, who collects and sends the heart rate reports to all of the morning players, has noticed fewer heart rate spikes and a lower average heart rate.

“Both point to the fact that our cardiovascular fitness is improving,” Gusitsch said.

Griffin said the heart rate reports are beneficial to his own physical health.

“It’s interesting to see where you stand. It’s good to compete with yourself,” Griffin said. “It made me think about a more healthy lifestyle.”

But this cardiovascular improvement doesn’t come without its share of competition.

“A couple of us like to keep track of where we are,” said Gusitsch, the 6-12 physical education and health coordinator. “It’s kind of neat to compare where we started to where we are.”

Along with each email, Gusitsch gives the “Hustle Award” to one player each morning. The gag award goes to the player who had the highest average heart rate.

Wood won the Hustle Award for the May 6 game with an average heart rate of 178, winning by just four more beats per minute to the person with next highest heart rate, Washenko.

Washenko was sure that he had won the award mid game. While retreating back on defense after a missed drive to the hoop he said, “My pounding chest feels another Hustle Award.”

Yet, Wood’s “victory” doesn’t come without his display of athleticism. He has a rainbow-like, LeBron James looking jump shot. And he’s not afraid to drive to the hoop.

And more often than not, the ball goes through the net.

That’s not the case, though, for all players on the court.

Between both teams, 12 air balls were heaved towards the hoop. But it does not matter. All of the teachers there just want to have fun and get in a good workout.

“It’s a lot of low-level basketball,” Washenko said. “We’re not the best shooters or dribblers, but we have moments of greatness.”

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    Charlie GMay 28, 2011 at 1:16 am

    great article ross. would love to see this hahaha!

    Reply