Strength program powers 'M' to elite

By Rohit Bhave

Daily Sports Writer

While it may not be traditional, Kurt Golder's strength-training program has allowed the once-downtrodden men's gymnastics program to muscle its way into the nation's elite.

Beginning at 7:45 a.m., the team staggers into its gym at the Intramural Sports Building, ready to undergo an intense one-hour strength session.

Each gymnast works out twice a week in addition to his daily afternoon practices and meet competitions.

The benefits have been obvious - the Wolverines have dominated in strength-based events like the still rings. But to some, the morning is not kind.

"I hate getting up to go to morning strength," senior Kevin Roulston said. "It's still dark outside and the gym is freezing. But it's a small price to pay to be a part of the nation's premier strength program."

Golder has developed his unique techniques since his high-school gymnastics days.

The strength program has evolved from Golder's coaching years at Iowa - it is now in its ninth year.

"It's a combination of what I did in high school and picking peoples' brains," Golder said. "I use my philosophies and a lot of logic."

Because gymnastics requires a precise combination of strength, balance and flexibility, the Michigan coaching staff emphasizes specificity in its techniques. In competition, strength alone is useless without the attainment of the other two attributes.

"Our sport requires us to build a unique strength base," Roulston said. "Conventional weight room exercises are not very applicable. We need to build strength while maintaining flexibility."

While most teams use weight-room exercises like the bench press and the squat to gain strength, the Wolverines completely avoid the weight room. Instead, they train entirely on their gym apparatus.

"There is nothing better for an Iron Cross (a skill on the rings event), than actually practicing an Iron Cross," Golder said.

In addition to shunning the weights, Michigan's program differs in other aspects from its competitors.

For one, the coaching staff demands that each gymnast perform a minimum number of repetitions, no matter how many sets it takes.

Secondly, spotting the gymnast on an exercise is not allowed - only full unassisted repetitions from the gymnast are counted.

Many other schools allow the assistance of their athletes on their final repetition, reasoning that it promotes more strength gain by pushing their bodies more.

But Golder believes that strength gain must go hand in hand with the gymnast's confidence in himself. He feels that if Scott Vetere is accustomed to being aided on his final handstand pushup, he may not be able to duplicate the skill in a meet when he is severely fatigued.

Along with muscular growth, "there is some psychological development that has to happen," Golder said.

The last key distinction of the Michigan program is that it separates strength gain from endurance and conditioning.

Athletes perform each set when their muscles are rested and recovered from the previous one.

As a result, sets are performed at maximum muscular output so the finer points of a technique are mastered.

It is also no coincidence that by consensus, the two strongest gymnasts on the team also happen to be the two best.

Olympic trials qualifier Justin Toman walked in as a freshman barely being able to perform an Iron Cross.

All-American Vetere had weight trained in high school and had a solid strength base, but he lacked flexibility.

Now, on a team laden with stocky, well-built athletes, Toman and Vetere continually win the team's Iron Cross competitions.

Seeing the Wolverines' success, other collegiate and prep programs have sought to imitate Golder's program. This year, the coach made a very popular presentation at the National Coaches Congress.

"Some state directors called and said the presentation went over big," Golder said.

In the early 1980's, Nebraska football quickly drew attention from other college football teams seeking to imitate its largely successful strength and conditioning program.

Many feel the Cornhuskers' program is responsible for the elevation of strength and athleticism in the sport of college football.

In much the same way, Michigan gymnastics' unconventional but effective strength program is being copied by gymnastics programs across the country.

While other teams may not have the athletes or coaching to imitate Michigan's impressive results, the Wolverines have definitely reaped the rewards.

BRANDON SEDLOFF/Daily

Like many Michigan gymnasts, senior tri-captain Kevin Roulston has improved his still rings routine since adopting Michigan's morning strength program.