JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – High school athletes from across Northeast Florida packed into Planet Fitness Lakewood for the chance to meet one of football’s brightest stars.
“I’m pumped you know,” Baker County quarterback Keldon Dupree said. ”Love his game. Been watching him since colorado. I’m ecstatic.”
Travis Hunter spent time with the athletes - taking pictures, signing autographs, and encouraging them to keep working toward their goals.
“Meeting Travis Hunter was amazing,” Bishop Kenny running back Caleb Mattison said.
The event helped kick off Planet Fitness’ sixth annual Summer Pass Program, which allows teens ages 14 to 19 to workout for free from June 1 through August 31.
“It’s super exciting for me to be able to have that impact on kids because I was once that age looking up to older guys, being able to see them and see what they’ve been doing in their lifetime, so it’s super exciting for me to be able to be that person for other kids,” Hunter said.
Hunter said having access to a gym during those important teenage years can make a huge difference - especially for young athletes who may not have many resources.
“That timeframe is really important going from middle school to high school, trying to get bigger, faster, stronger,” Hunter said, ”A lot of kids don’t have the opportunity to just go somewhere and work out without having to pay anything.”
The athletes at the event said the program gives them a chance to train on their own schedule...
“I really like benching,” West Nassau pitcher Olivia Urbina said.
Stay in shape this summer...
“I do cardio,” Paxon flag football player Saniyah Hawkins said. ”I need to get more in weights because like you know arm strength is not there with me.”
And prepare for their upcoming seasons.
“It’s really awesome because a lot of places where we live, they don’t have as much equipment and just being able to come whenever we want, that’s just great because we don’t have to stick to a strict schedule, we just have the flexibility of whenever,” Urbina said.
“It’s very cool because I’m going to be coming here a lot,” Chaffee Trail cornerback Ayden Murphy said.