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Comets’ all-time leading rusher Trever Heitz working with Buffalo Bills this offseason

Comets' all-time leading rusher Trever Heitz working with Buffalo Bills this offseason
Press photo by John Burbridge
Most of the school record-setting yardage Trever Heitz compiled during his running back career at Charles City was between the tackles. Heitz is studying Exercise Science at Wartburg College and is working as an intern this offseason with the Buffalo Bills.

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

An excuse not to go to the gym is sometimes more welcome than Saint Nick.

For many, the COVID shutdown was the perfect alibi.

Trever Heitz was the obvious exception.

During his athletic career at Charles City High School, Heitz was the de facto “Governor” of the Comets’ weight room. Always there whether he was amidst a sports season or not. Always reaching for a higher standard if not in the process of setting one.

But even when access to the school’s weight room was denied due to the pandemic, that didn’t stop Heitz because he had since built a multi-faceted weight room at his home … a home away from home.

Heitz had reasons not to take a day a week or even a month off from training. He was chasing a school record, a school record tantalizingly close within his grasp yet threateningly on the verge of being denied by unprecedented factors.

They did play football Heitz’s senior year (2020), and even though the Comets had to forfeit a string of games due to COVID infections that season, it still allowed Heitz the opportunity to surpass 2008 grad Taylor Fiser as Charles City’s all-time ground gainer with 2,373 yards.

The Comet Football Team MVP and All-District running back signed on to continue his football career at Wartburg College — Heitz’s coach Darren Bohlen was a star running back for the Knights and a Wartburg Hall of Famer.

“By the time I got to college, I already had three knee surgeries,” Heitz said of stint with the Knights. “You try to work through it, but it wasn’t meant to be.”

Heitz focused his efforts on his studies — Exercise Science — and, suddenly, he’s back in football.

With the Buffalo Bills.

“It was a loose connection made possible by my academic advisor,” Heitz said of working as an intern this off-season including the team’s recent mandatory minicamp in and around Orchard Park, New York.

“I do multiple things … set up the weights and training program … help with the physical preparation,” Heitz said. “One thing I learned is that the NFL is very much people driven. You have to develop a rapport with the people you work with.

“Everyone there has come from different walks of life. You’ve got to keep that in mind if you want to connect with the players … to get them to trust and respect you.”

Heitz has been asked to come back to work with the team this forthcoming preseason.

“That will be in the middle of July,” said Heitz, who will be busy in the interim, nonetheless, as he has also found work this spring/summer training athletes at Iowa State University.

Though Heitz graduated from the Charles City football program before current Comet coach Bryan Bjorklund took over, Bjorklund is giddy that a CC grad is working with his favorite NFL team.

“It’s nice to know that former Comets are still involved in football,” he said.

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