Lake Belton Broncos take a necessary summer

break before gearing up again in August

July 3, 2025

By Clay Whittington

The Belton Journal

Brian Cope finds time to get away. He must be very selective about it, though.

In a little more than a month, football teams across the state will return to the field in order to begin practicing for the upcoming season.

For most athletes, however, there are still plenty of opportunities to enjoy activities away from the game, but the Broncos’ head coach is not as fortunate.

“There are times when to (relax),” Cope said. “My wife and I always take a trip right after graduation, because all the facilities get shut down for a week. So, we just have to plan stuff like that accordingly.

“It is important to recharge in this business, but once we get back on July 7, I’ve already started working, and I’m ready to go. It is full throttle from there.”

While the University Interscholastic League’s rules prevent Class 5A teams like Lake Belton, which conducted spring training, from practicing until Aug. 11, the players are preparing.

In addition to spending several weeks integrating back into game mood during the spring, athletes have taken part in regular strength and conditioning sessions since classes have ended. Athletes convene at the school’s weight room to take part in approximately two hours of lifting and working on sport-specific skills.

Currently, there is a break in the program after almost a month of running, allowing for athletes to enjoy the holiday before resuming and completing the final weeks.

The departure is deserved, according to Cope, after 527 middle and high school students showed up for the first day of strength and conditioning, also known as Elite Camp.

“We just had three outstanding weeks of Elite Camp,” he said. “We’ve had the best turnout that we’ve ever had. So, I’m just really proud of the kids, their parents and this community for making sure they understand the importance of working out during the summer.

“We just want to make sure everyone also has that time to be away, because while the UIL is giving us a lot of extra hours to work with them, we have to make sure not to burn them out before August rolls around.”

Furthermore, football players have also spent part of their spring and summer participating in 7-on-7 leagues and tournaments or lineman challenges.

At the annual state lineman challenge, the Broncos placed fourth in their division after excelling in strength and agility competitions, including the bench press, dumbbell stack, obstacle course and tire flip. Lake Belton won three events.

Undoubtedly, all the spring and summer activities are beneficial, but there is an ultimate purpose.

The Broncos have advanced to the playoffs in each of the past three seasons, but they have yet to advance beyond the opening round.

This year, Lake Belton intends to celebrate its first bi-district championship and perhaps hoist the program’s inaugural district title along the way. The trek toward the lofty goals begins Aug. 29, when the Broncos travel to College Station A&M Consolidated for their season opener.

Once again, the team will have only three games to prepare for the seven-game District 8-5A, Division I schedule, which begins Sept. 11 against visiting Killeen.

Regardless of how the season unfolds, though, Cope feels the current months are critical to any potential success.

“If we are going to be elite,” he said, “we have to be able to work out in the summer, and we have to be able to communicate where we are in the process. It is still continuing, but we’ve already had an unbelievable offseason.

“I’m really proud of this senior class, and we just want to make sure we continue this all the way into the fall.”