Firefighters, football players train together

Thirteen-year-old Quinshea Allred sprints down the field as fast as he can, running drills for the Grandview Middle School football team.

Next to him runs 21-year-old Rich Jenkins. Jenkins is one of Hickory Fire Department's recruits. They practice with the football team nearly every day, doing stretches, agility exercises and occasionally running with them.

"I think it's awesome," Allred said. "It's gotten me faster. It's made the whole team better."

Hickory Fire Department Station 7 is next door to Grandview Middle School on Catawba Valley Boulevard. The 20 recruits, ages 20 to 40, have exercised on the athletic field the football team uses since July, training for recruit school, said Capt. Josh Starnes with the Hickory Fire Department.

"One of the recruits saw the team drilling one day, and asked if we could join," he said. "I told him to hold that thought, came over and asked, and the coach said to 'Line 'em up.' I don't know who inspires who."

To graduate, recruits must run two miles non-stop and do a lot of calisthenics that are very similar to what the football team already does, Starnes said. Their graduation is Nov. 18.

Todd Teague, the football coach at Grandview, said the firefighters-in-training usually join the team for stretches, push-ups, sit-ups and a few other exercises.

"They do their run after that, and we usually do our run beforehand," Teague said. "It's funny to watch them, because neither wants to lose to the other."

For about three weeks, the firefighters and Grandview Eagles have worked out alongside each other for part of most practices. The firefighters are close enough to the students to joke about how pale someone's legs are when they are doing a drill, and that player will give them lip right back.

Connor Darab, 14, is in eighth grade. He said practicing with them has made him work harder.

"They joke around with us and show us leadership, because they do this, too," he said. "And they always come to our games."

Jenkins said that's something he hopes students were getting from their workouts with the firefighters.

"I hope we're motivating the young people, to maybe be firefighters, because when I was their age, that was my dream job," he said. "Maybe we'll train them one day."

Jenkins said it's hard working out with people who are seven years younger than he is, because they spend most of their day in grueling training sessions, practicing to become firefighters. On Friday, they practiced extricating people from cars. In the afternoon, they worked out. That doesn't mean he doesn't enjoy it.

Jordan Clark, 23, said the best part is spending time with the kids.

"With the older guys, it lights them up," he said. "And it's a way of serving the community and a way of giving back."

Clark used to be on his school's football team. He said working out with Grandview's team has brought back memories of those times.

"It's been five to 10 years since any of us had done this," he said.

Working out with Grandview, though, has prepared Clark for the fitness exam that's required of the recruits. He said he thinks he could pass it now, if tested.

Jahiz Linebarger, 13, said working with the firefighters pushed him, as well.

"When we run, they push us to run hard and stretch hard every day," he said. "I play with more heart every day."

The firefighters have watched two of the Eagles' football games. At the last game, Teague said the recruits dressed in uniform, and sat behind the home bench, cheering them on.

"When they watch us play, it motivates me," Linebarger said. "I like how they show support for us."

Teague said since the firefighters have been practicing with the football team, the team has won every game.

"I don't know if that's coincidence or not," he said. "Something's working. We shouldn't break the habit."