Notre Dame has two seniors, Caroline Brabant and Jay Strain, nominated for NSCA All-American Strength and Conditioning Athletes of the Year.

This nomination represents their commitment and work ethic in and out of the weight room. It is not necessarily the individuals who improve the most but those who show dedication and commitment. It is an honor to be nominated for this award and recognizes their hard work. It puts these individuals in an elite group and shows their dedication to the team.

“I was very excited and happy to hear that I was nominated. I had put in a lot of hard work over the years,” said Brabant. 

There are many reasons why the two have been nominated for this award. Strain brings a positive attitude and dedication that makes everyone around want to try their best in the weight room, and Brabant’s positive example in the weight room and commitment is an inspiration for all.

In addition, these individuals are outstanding athletes, and it has been made possible through the support and guidance of Coach A.J.Giovannetti. 

“I nominated our two athletes because of their consistency throughout their four years at NDA. The NSCA award isn’t just for the strongest athlete on the team or in the school. It’s about those who do all the little things correctly,” said Giovannetti.  “Show up and give great effort consistently, be leaders in the weight room, be coachable and buy into the program–if an athlete does these things well, the strength will undoubtedly come.”

Dedication means everything to all athletes. This is giving your total effort to all you do during practice and off the court. The hardest part of being an athlete is to have the right mindset. Athletes need to remember that they are working for a goal. 

“That hard work pays off, and it’s important to always give 100% and continue to push myself even when I don’t feel like it,” said Strain.

Lifting has taught athletes many essential skills. The most important thing is that it helps to improve one’s athletic ability. For Strain, it has allowed him to get closer to his goal of playing college football.

“Lifting has taught me to have a lot of discipline, and it also has shown me that it takes a lot of work to be successful,” added Brabant.

Winning a game of having a good day in the weight room is not just based on one individual. It is critical to have support from your teammates, and, for Brabant, they are her biggest inspiration. The drive and dedication that they offer push her to work harder and accomplish some critical points in her life. Strength and conditioning helps an athlete to become more resistant to injury, agile, stronger and faster.

 “I would say my biggest inspiration throughout this journey has been my parents. They have always shown me love and support. They want me to be the best man I can be on and off the field,” said Strain.

Their strength and conditioning coach believes the dedication of Strain and Brabant inspires other athletes and teammates.

“Having dedicated athletes is essential to running a successful program,” said Giovannetti, “and the difference between having a group of dedicated athletes and not dedicated athletes is very noticeable. You can immediately feel the difference in energy when you enter the weight room. Having kids who are dedicated and are willing to be leaders makes my job a lot easier and makes the S&C process better for their teammates. There’s strength in numbers, so the more athletes that buy into the program the better the program is going to be.”