Arp players go through drills during the first day of football practice Monday at Bill Herrington Tiger Stadium. 

ARP — A two-week boot camp in May is paying dividends for the Arp Tigers now as they have opened practice for the 2023 season.

“We put them through a whole classroom session and then we put them through some physical things to let them know their body can push through more than really what they think and to teach team that when they’re getting tired, they can’t feel sorry for themselves,” Arp head football coach Wes Schminkey said. “Think about the other people out there working with you, be a good teammate and always put your teammates first. When the times got tough, at first, they would start feeling sorry for themselves, but toward the end of it, we got to where we wanted to be, and they would actually fight through it, which come football season, there’s going to be times when we’re going to get punched in the mouth at some point, and we’re going to face some adversity, so we want to teach them to respond the correct way.”

The players agreed that the boot camp really helped them.

“It helped us a ton,” senior running back KJ Yarbrough said. “We had a huge lack of mindset. But now, the mindset is a lot different.”

“I think that helped us a whole lot,” senior quarterback Frank Smith said. “It made us come closer as a team and pick each other up and encourage each other when you’re down. You have to have mental toughness and physical toughness.”

Smith, who has been starting since he was a freshman, threw for 1,958 yards and 21 touchdowns and ran for another 616 yards and 15 touchdowns last season.

“I know I have to be the best leader I can be and be the best teammate possible,” Smith said.

“His last season needs to be his best,” Schminkey said. “He’s been in the fire for a while now. He’s got experience, that’s for sure.”

Yarbrough rushed for 915 yards and six scores last season.

“We’ve just got to keep showing up and being out here, listening to coach and just trying our best at all times,” Yarbrough said.

Arp went 3-7 overall and 2-4 in District 9-3A Division II last season, just missing out on the playoffs as the district’s fifth-place team.

With seven starters back on offense and five starters returning on defense, the Tigers are trying to put themselves in position to not only make the playoffs but compete for a district title.

“We want to win district and go far in the playoffs,” Smith said.

“I’m thinking there will be improvement this year,” Schminkey said. “We developed a lot of toughness throughout the offseason. “We’re expecting better things. We want to be the best we can be, whatever that entails for our season. We want to give everything we’ve got every day.”

Arp will host Malakoff for a scrimmage on Aug. 10 and will scrimmage at Hawkins on Aug. 17. The Tigers will open the 2023 season by hosting Joaquin on Aug. 25.