Harrison hasn’t won a football game this season, but coach Al Melo couldn’t be happier with some of the on-field results.

“Injuries, as far as what we see in practice or in games, have been basically nonexistent,” he said. “We haven’t had a kid miss a play or a practice. … It’s been great.”

Melo credits the team’s fortune to a summer program orchestrated by the Colorado Springs-based National Strength and Conditioning Association.

The Panthers served as test subjects in a 12-week evaluation of the program, which focuses on educating coaches and athletes in an effort to improve power, speed, agility and conditioning.

“What we’re trying to do is develop a 12-week plan for high schools to use,” said Jake Wurth, NSCA coaching performance coordinator. “The main goals of the program are to increase performance and prevent injuries.”

“… We’re trying to make as safe a program as possible so that one coach can be in a weight room with 30 athletes and make it safe.”

The program will be analyzed from “how well they’ve been performing on the field to the sports injuries that they’ve prevented — by comparing that to last year when they did not have this program” said Greg Nockleby, the NSCA marketing coordinator.

Despite three losses to open the season, Melo has become an instant supporter of the program.

“Our record doesn’t show it, but our kids are better,” he said last week. “In two games, we (had) 603 yards rushing. Our kids are more physical; they’re more competitive.”

Quantifying these improvements is essential for the advancement of the program. The NSCA, a nonprofit that also has developed programs for groups such as the Colorado SWAT Team, conducted pre- and post-tests on the Panthers to measure improvement and plans to have a postseason analysis to determine overall effects.

The program likely will be available to the public by the end of the month.

Running back Vaughn Wingo is glad he received a sneak preview.

“I won’t get as tired, like when I first started the program,” he said. “I’m more conditioned. … I can see a lot of improvement. I’m going to keep it up. It’s going to help out.”

Harrison nose guard and fullback Lorenzo Wheeler did squats while being spotted by NSCA coach Jake Wurth at a recent session. Photo by CAROL LAWRENCE, THE GAZETTE