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Woodberry Adds Morning Fitness Program for Third Formers
This year’s freshmen are the first to experience Woodberry’s new Third-Form Fitness Program. The program's goal is for third formers to develop better sleeping and working habits by maintaining a more active and structured schedule. By engaging students in regular physical activity, the program also hopes to instill long-term healthy lifestyle habits that will benefit them both academically and personally.
The fitness program had its first meeting on September 10. The boys are split into three groups based on the hall they live on. Group 1 (Upper Dowd Finch) and 2 (Middle and Upper Taylor) meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays while Group 3 (Middle Dowd Finch and Lower Taylor) meets on Wednesdays and Fridays. These early-morning sessions, which run from 7 to 7:45 am, not only challenge students physically but also encourage discipline, punctuality, and time-management skills as they balance workouts with their academic work.
In the first week of the program, the boys completed baseline testing on the mile run, push-ups, and planks. The boys will be re-evaluated at the end of the trimester to compare their results.
“If boys find themselves improving on those marks, and feeling better, sleeping better, and wanting to continue to work out, the program will be a success,” said Athletic Director Matt Blundin.
Many upperclassmen leaders have stepped up and volunteered to help with the workouts, including DJ Clayton ’25, Charlie Matthews ’25, Liam Moylan ’25, Buddy Wegdam ’26, Anish Roy ’26, and Wyly Brown ’25.
“I chose to become a leader for this program because I have a passion for lifting and I want to share that with the younger guys,” said Brown.
The upperclassmen leaders help guide freshmen through proper lifting techniques, ensuring safety while pushing them to improve their strength and endurance. Leadership from upperclassmen benefits the freshmen not only in the weight room but also by connecting seniors with freshmen who may not have many chances to interact with each other. These relationships help create a sense of community across different grade levels, which is a key part of Woodberry’s culture.
The feedback from freshmen has been positive so far.
“The first day was hard getting up for. But now I am starting to enjoy it,” said Luke Haynes ’28.
“The boys as a whole have really bought into the program and have had very good attitudes,” said Blundin. “They should be proud of what they are accomplishing for themselves and as a group.”
>> Reporting by Charlie McKay ’25
>> Reporting by Charlie McKay ’25
Woodberry Forest School is an exceptional private school community for high school boys in grades nine through twelve. It is one of the top boarding schools in the United States and one of the only all-boys, all-boarding schools in the country.
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Woodberry Forest admits students of any race, color, sexual orientation, disability, religious belief, and national or ethnic origin to all of the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sexual orientation, disability, religious belief, or national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic or other school-administered programs. The school is authorized under federal law to enroll nonimmigrant students.