Father Completes ZMan Workout Honoring Late Son Before His Birthday

A Jenks father spent Saturday honoring his son who died in a 2017 car accident.

The fourth annual ZMan Workout remembers Zachary Van Horn a day before what would have been his 14th birthday. The community continues to celebrate Van Horn’s legacy three years after his death.

Zachary, the son of Matthew Van Horn, was just 10 years old when he, his mother Erin, and two other children died in a car crash on the way home from Turner Falls. 

“He was very special, not just because he was my son,” Matthew Van Horn said. “Because, gosh, he just, he had an incredible heart." 

A family friend who serves in the U.S. Army Special Forces created the ZMan Workout to honor Zachary. 

"I've got friends and family or strangers that don't even know us but know our story and they're willing to strap it on and sweat things out,” Matthew Van Horn said. “It's really pretty remarkable." 

The ZMan Workout has been modified through the years by participants. Kristen Cargal with T-Town South Fitness said their version is pretty intense. Their version of the workout includes 9,000 meters of rowing broken into intervals and combined ball slams, battle rope, pushups and dips. 

"You're pushing through the pain your feel in your body honoring someone who is no longer here with us," Cargal said. 

“If roles were reversed, Zach would be one of the first kids that would be suited up to do a workout like this in honor of one of his friends,” Matthew Van Horn said. 

Zachary's Jenks football teammates continue honoring their friend beyond his birthday. 

"One of the coaches, Chris Cox, said […], ‘[B]oys, if you're ever wondering how Zach is doing, you can always just walk out in the backyard and you look up in the sky and you look for the two brightest stars,’" Matthew Van Horn said. 

The workout stuck because Van Horn sees people all over sporting his son's symbol. 

"I'll actually travel with these stickers, so everywhere from ski poles in Vail to Bourbon Street in New Orleans, there's No. 8 signs,” Matthew Van Horn said. 

Van Horn believes his special wingman is smiling down from heaven. 

Van Horn said Jenks Trojan Athletics will do an 8-minute warmup on Monday in memory of Zachary.