The Dolores School District has added a new middle school exercise class: CrossFit.

John McHenry, a teacher and the assistant athletic director, is certified to instruct CrossFit classes, so he worked with Secondary School Principal Justin Schmitt to give middle school students something fun and active to do after school during the coronavirus pandemic.

With 50 students already participating in the new exercise class, McHenry said at a school board meeting Thursday that students are asking to take the training class next semester.

“I’m having a blast,” he said.

McHenry received an $8,000 grant from CrossFit to purchase equipment for the CrossFit course, and Mountain Range Fitness in Cortez donated equipment to the Dolores School District.

Students do “monkey hangs” from a new horizontal bar in the gym to improve their core and back strength, and swing kettle bells to work their upper bodies.

Abdomen mats give the students lumbar support during situps, and students build upper body strength with big rubber bands.

“They’ve been really excited, it helps kids on a personal level,” such as building confidence, Schmitt said.

McHenry secured an official CrossFit affiliate status for the class as well, called Dolores Bears CrossFit.

The affiliation status gives McHenry workout routines and ideas for kids, but because the affiliate is under the umbrella of the school, it does not face the fee commercial organizations might face, McHenry said Friday.

Nine teachers also participate in a class after school.

“We’re really grateful for everything you’re doing,” Superintendent Lis Richard told McHenry during the board meeting Thursday.

He is working with Mountain Range Fitness in Cortez to find out how the students can participate in a Halloween CrossFit competition.

ehayes@the-journal.com