Newcastle Dogies Build Strength, Speed and Unity Through Summer Workouts

Newcastle High School football spent the Summer 2026 offseason getting bigger, faster and stronger together. The Dogies held four speed and lifting sessions each week, pairing weight-room development with speed and X-Factor workouts under the program’s “Feed the Cats” philosophy. The steady schedule gave players opportunities to improve their athletic ability while building the shared commitment required for a varsity football season.

Olympic lifts formed the foundation of the strength program, helping the Dogies develop power and explosiveness. Players tested in the squat, clean and bench press, while every running drill was timed with the program’s new OVR Performance timing system. That technology allowed Newcastle to track changes in speed throughout the summer. Mason Rawhouser recorded the top listed squat at 350 pounds, followed by Dane Crabtree at 340 and Braxton Von Eye at 305. Dane Crabtree led the listed bench press results at 225 pounds, with Weston McConkey close behind at 215.

The speed testing reflected the same competitive approach. Dane Crabtree and Weston McConkey shared the fastest recorded 40-yard dash at 4.832 seconds. Dane Crabtree also posted the best listed pro-agility time at 4.987 seconds, edging Mason Rawhouser’s 4.988. Zeke Morrill led the listed vertical jump results with a mark of 21.7. Those measurable gains gave players clear feedback while adding energy and accountability to each workout.

Attendance provided another encouraging sign for the Dogies. Senior Mason Rawhouser reached 38 weight-room sessions, tying freshmen Brayton and Braxton Von Eye among the team’s recognized attendance leaders, while the available offseason sheet also listed Brayton Von Braxton Von Eye at 38. Senior Dane Crabtree completed 31 sessions, junior Lukas Benshoof attended 30, and sophomores Braylon Gregory and Davyn Hoffman finished with 33 and 32, respectively. The strong participation from younger players helped establish Newcastle’s standards early, while the older players set a visible example of consistency.

The benefits extend beyond testing numbers. Added strength and power will help prepare the Dogies for the demands of varsity football, and the conditioning work is an important part of injury prevention entering a grueling fall camp. Just as importantly, hours spent lifting and running together allowed the players to develop the trust and chemistry needed to win football games. Newcastle will put that summer foundation to use when the Dogies open on the road against Rapid City Stevens at 6 p.m. MDT Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026.