Patriotic workout: Pirates honor fallen hero | Observer Local News

U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Michael "Hammer" Bordelon, died in 2005 from injuries incurred in Iraq when a car bomb exploded near his military vehicle.

The Matanzas High School football team honored Bordelon on Thursday, June 27, with its annual Red, White and Blue workout.

For the fourth straight year, the Pirates did a CrossFit Hero Workout of the Day, honoring a fallen hero.

The Red, White and Blue Workout ended Phase 1 of the team's summer workout schedule. Since Phase 1 ends in the week leading up to the Fourth of July, the team celebrates with a cookout and a game of Pirate Ball (a modified version of Ultimate Frisbee using a football) following the morning workout. They wear red, white and blue workout clothes as they honor a fallen veteran.

This workout has a lot more meaning for us." — CADEN BURCHFIELD, Matanzas quarterback

"This workout has a lot more meaning for us," quarterback Caden Burchfield said.

The Pirates' modified "Hammer" workout consisted of five rounds of a 400-meter run (a lap around the track), then barbell exercises of five power clean reps, 10 front squats and five jerks (lifting the weights overhead from the shoulders) followed by 20 pushups face-to-face with a partner.

The players had 90 seconds of rest time between each round.

After describing the workout, coach Matt Forrest told the players, "For us to be able to do what we do, to play football, to go to school, to have access to education and access to all the things that we have in this country, there is a long line of people that have fought and paid the ultimate price."

"If you forget about the sacrifices that people made to get you to this point," Forrest said, "then how can you progress and make things better in the future? Remember the sacrifices that people made for you, what they did in order to propel you forward. Be appreciative and don't forget."

In addition to honoring First Sgt. Bordelon, the day's activities was a chance for the players to bond, quarterback Jackson Lundahl said.

"The workout is the highlight, but we have a lot of bonding as well," he said.

During Phase 1 of their summer schedule, Matanzas players worked out in the mornings Monday through Thursday. They spent about 50 minutes of weight training, 25 minutes of track speed work and 25 minutes "on the farm." The farm is an area outside of the weight room where they flip tractor tires and push sleds.

The day after the Red, White and Blue workout, the Pirates competed in Bethune-Cookman University's Kings of the Beach 7v7 tournament. After that, they have a week off before Phase 2 of the summer schedule begins followed by preseason practice which kicks off on July 29.

Lundahl and Burchfield plan to spend part of their off week working on throwing dynamics.

We do some individual training and we do some training together," Burchfield said. "We try to make each other better."