When Eric Zoske took the job as Austin head girls basketball coach last year, he vowed that he was going to do whatever he could to bring success to Packer girls athletes. This summer he’s making good on that call as he’s helped start a free weight lifting session and free Packer girls basketball camps for players of all ages.

The weight room had 75 girls in it on the first day of the open lifting session.

“What I really want to do is I want to put in much time as I possibly can, whether its for my basketball girls or whether its for all girls who want to better themselves,” Zoske said. “So far, it’s been a real good turnout and our numbers have been high.”

Austin girls basketball players Hope Dudycha and Emma Dudycha started the weight lifting program right after the Packers were knocked out of the Section 1AAA tournament. The twins, who will be freshmen in the fall, have now been in the program for 16 weeks and they’ve noticed some big changes.

“I feel a lot stronger and I’ve noticed a big difference in summer basketball with finishing with contact and getting jump balls are a lot easier,” Hope said. “You get used to it, you’ve just got to get in a routine and you get stronger.”

Emma and Hope have now stepped up as leaders in the weight room for some of the girls who are new to the program. Emma said it’s as simple as showing up and being ready to work.

“We’ve been coming in every day and getting stronger,” Emma said. “You’ve just got to put in the work and it gets easier.”

Another pair of Austin girls basketball players have been hard at work since before last season ended. Colie Justice and Elyse Hebrink, who both suffered major knee injuries last year, are back in the fold and they’ve been putting in time on the court and in the weight room.

“It’s very good to be back finally. It was a long process, but it was nice to have Elyse to go through it with me and to have someone to relate and talk to. It wasn’t easy,” Justice said. “Weight lifting is a huge thing to keep your strength and it’s really nice that he’s doing it for free. Lots of girls have been there and it’s not just for basketball, it’s for the city of Austin.”

Hebrink and Justice have both learned about the importance of weight lifting through their rehab from their injuries and Hebrink said she has a new zest for basketball after her return to the court.

“It makes the game so much better after you get it taken away from you,” Hebrink said.

While he’s glad to have the duo of guards back in the lineup, Zoske is still a little nervous when he sees them on the court during drills.

“They still make me a little bit nervous whenever they do something, but Colie’s one of the fastest girls on the team and Elyse never wants to slow down,” Zoske said. “They look good out here.”

The weight room will be open from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays through June and July. The free open gym for girls in fourth through sixth grade will run from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on  June 18 and and June 25.

Zoske said it’s important of all athletes to stay busy in the summer.

“If you look at the teams that win state or are successful year after year, they’re always doing something in the summertime,” Zoske said. “You wipe off the rust and you build team bonding. That all starts in the summer.”