Summer is a prime time for prep students to get away from the education halls and get down to some serious hanging-out to recharge their mental batteries a bit before they return to the books. But for a whole bevy of local student-athletes, it is also a time to further strengthen their stores of energy before returning to the playing fields. Weatherford senior Mitchael Rucker is one of those.
Rucker has enjoyed a good share of time with friends through the hot months of North-Central Texas thus far, and looks forward to an impending family vacation, but he has also expended a considerable portion of hard work and sweat to prepare for the rigorous schedule the Kangaroos face when the 2009 football season begins anew in August.
"I've been working on my leg strength a lot," said Rucker. "I had a couple of leg injuries last year and I just want to get more strength in my lower body.
"I've also worked on gaining some weight and keeping it on. But I also do lots of running so that my speed doesn't suffer."
Rucker has put on 20 to 25 pounds since last season. Part of the Spring training regimen also included Seven-on seven football, which is gaining popularity as an off-season activity for high school gridders.
As a junior, Rucker received recognition in the all-district balloting, garnering a First Team slot for his efforts at both quarterback and running back. He provided the lion's share of production for the Roos offense on the year. He also received national honors for his tenacity as a running back, named as a recipient of the Old Spice Red Zone award.
Despite a disappointing football record in 2008, Rucker acknowledges the elevated commitments of his teammates as they have worked together in the off-season and has positive hopes and goals for the team in the coming campaign.
"I felt like our spring drills were a lot better than we've seen," he said. "Even some of the younger guys that we didn't expect much from this early really have stepped it up and done a lot better.
"Another thing that's going to be good is getting to play in the new stadium. It kind of gives us a rush that we'll get to play and host games in a nice place, like Aledo and some of the other schools have. Kind of makes us feel that [the community] is thinking of us."
Due to the injuries from last year, neither requiring surgery, Rucker was unable to compete in other sports. A situation he hopes to resolve in his senior tour.
"I really want to play baseball this year," Rucker said, "and run track."
The senior has played in centerfield in the past on the diamond and, along with running the 400 meters, also is a long jump and triple jump specialist.
Growing up in Weatherford, Rucker started down the sports path as a youngster, getting his first exposure to baseball as soon as they would let him. Wasn't long though before he was donning the football pads.
"I met [friend] Colton Kamper at a baseball game," he said. "He got me interested in football, which I grew to like more than baseball, because I could vent anger and not get in trouble for it."
Despite the 17-year-old's youth, he is aware of the benefits of hard work through athletics, and confident the experience will provide payback later.
"Hard work is required, regardless of what you do in life," Rucker said. "Coach [Kenny] Wheaton reminds us often that an important thing is to get ready for college. Football, and athletics, will not always be around but you still have to work hard to succeed. I think that's an important thing that being in sports has taught me."
Some of Rucker's personal diversions include his love of automobiles. He likes the hands-on aspect of working on his truck.
"I just really like cars!" he exclaimed with a grin.
Some Rucker Favorites:
Sports figure(s): Kobe Bryant ("Even though I don't play basketball, I think he's great"), Emmit Smith and Troy Aikman.
Musical artist/genre: All kinds of music ("Even country music ... my Dad listens to that a lot")
Actor: Vin Diesel ("I like action movies the most")
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GREG WEBB/DEMOCRAT PHOTO
Gridiron, diamond, running lanes on senior- year agenda for Kangaroos' quarterback
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