A NEW SPACE: Gloucester High School weight room and fitness center to receive and upgrade | Sports

Gloucester Significant School’s body weight room and health and fitness heart is set to have a new glimpse.

In January, the Gloucester Fishermen Athletic Association, a community non-income corporation that helps Gloucester athletes in quite a few methods and was a driving power driving the Newell Stadium task that was finished in 2013, started off boosting resources to rehabilitate the conditioning facility at the college. The firm has held multiple fundraisers given that for the undertaking, which has a spending plan of $120,000, and a non-public donor has promised to match the very first $50,000 donated.

Around the several years, the excess weight place has develop into a little bit out-of-date and in need of an update with some of the gear deteriorating.

“The room experienced not been touched in effectively over 20 decades,” GFAA President Kristin Michel stated. “The machines is ruined and rather makeshift. We felt it was time for a refresh to satisfy the student’s requires.”

A acquire get has currently been signed and the task is slated to start out this summer season. All of the outdated products has been taken out from the facility and the to start with purchase of business enterprise later on this summer months will be to set in new floors. Right after the flooring are place in, the exercise gear will be set up.

The GFAA labored carefully with a number of GHS coaches and employees including football coach Dan O’Connor, cross region coach Ali Mitchell, observe and discipline coach David Coleman, assistant industry hockey and women hockey mentor Don Riley, GHS physical instruction instructor Jim Unis, who employed the physical fitness center as his classroom for the duration of the 2021-22 faculty calendar year, and former GHS Athletic Trainer Alyssa Williamson.

The objective for the coaches and staff members is to make the facility a put where by all athletes can perform out.

“We need to have a position on faculty grounds wherever the kids can do every little thing they will need,” O’Connor claimed. “We want this to be a position for all athletes to workout and a position that is effective for bodily schooling lessons much too. It builds camaraderie not only within just each team but in the athletic program as a complete.”

The current excess weight room and fitness centre will aspect up to date gear of all types. Two ten years outdated pulley equipment will be replaced with brand new, current versions. The previous body weight benches, numerous of which had been torn and in rough condition, will also be changed. Workout products these as stationary bikes will be added to the area as nicely, changing older variations that have been in the home due to the fact it was constructed in the late 90’s. It will also attribute a strip of turf to assist athletes perform on their footwork and quickness.

It will also be a big enable to athletes searching rehabilitating from accidents as present GHS Athletic Trainer Jason Mason will be ready to get the job done with athletes to assistance recovery. At present Mason does his rehab operate at Addison Gilbert Hospital.

The new facility will be named in memory of Greg Swinson, who taught heritage and science in the Gloucester Public School process for 35 years. Swinson was also a previous assistant football coach at GHS who was identified for his commitment as a strength and conditioning mentor and his perception of humor, building hard do the job exciting for the athletes. He was a mainstay in the GHS excess weight space, aiding all Gloucester athletes understand how to work out for their precise sporting activities.

“He place so a great deal time and exertion into supporting athletes in the fat space,” O’Connor stated. “He taught hundreds of athletes in all sporting activities, myself incorporated, how to work out the correct way, the harmless way and to have exciting with it. It is a fitting honor to title it following him.”

Fundraising is nonetheless ongoing for the facility and donations are still currently being approved. Search to GHS Conditioning Centre Rehabilitation Project and the GFAA’s venmo website page to make a donation. The hope is to have the exercise centre completed by the time the 2022-23 school year begins in the fall.

Personnel author Michael Cronin contributed to this report.