A training place of their own
Jennifer Waite-Harsha
Issue date: 11/18/09 Section: News
The stench of new rubber doesn't seem to knock the athlete's rhythmic breathing out of sync as he lifts the weights up and down. The bright lights glare against the shiny new metal as a few determined athletes pump iron. The room is congested with weight machines and strength training gear.
But this bulky equipment can't be found in the Fitness Center.
The new varsity weight room, located in the bottom of the Spartan Athletic Complex, is a place where only members of a Castleton State College varsity sports team can go and strength train. Although the weight room is new this year, it is used on a daily basis.
"It gives us a leeway to train the athletes without interruptions and control the intensity of their workouts," said Al Jean, director of fitness facilities and strength and conditioning coach. "They are trained accordingly in off-season, pre-season and in-season."
The weight room isn't what you'd expect. While the walls are plain, free of distracting body building posters and nutrition charts, the room itself is a tiny 1,400 square feet compared to the 3,500 square-foot Fitness Center. The equipment sits tightly in careful lines. But, it wasn't supposed to be this size.
"Part of the reason I took this job was, I was informed at the time of my interview, that in the near future there would be a strength training facility equivalent to the size of the Fitness Center," Jean said.
Despite its size, Jean said that the majority of the teams like the weight room because they don't have to work around the Fitness Center schedule. The weight room "gives them their own home," he said.
Women's basketball player Kristie Dunchus agrees.
"I like it because like last year we would have to wait, so this year we can get in and out with just one team at a time," Dunchus said. "It can be more relaxing because it's just our team."
Bethany Torrice, women's volleyball coach, said she thinks her team has "really enjoyed having their own separate facility" for team workouts.
But this bulky equipment can't be found in the Fitness Center.
The new varsity weight room, located in the bottom of the Spartan Athletic Complex, is a place where only members of a Castleton State College varsity sports team can go and strength train. Although the weight room is new this year, it is used on a daily basis.
"It gives us a leeway to train the athletes without interruptions and control the intensity of their workouts," said Al Jean, director of fitness facilities and strength and conditioning coach. "They are trained accordingly in off-season, pre-season and in-season."
The weight room isn't what you'd expect. While the walls are plain, free of distracting body building posters and nutrition charts, the room itself is a tiny 1,400 square feet compared to the 3,500 square-foot Fitness Center. The equipment sits tightly in careful lines. But, it wasn't supposed to be this size.
"Part of the reason I took this job was, I was informed at the time of my interview, that in the near future there would be a strength training facility equivalent to the size of the Fitness Center," Jean said.
Despite its size, Jean said that the majority of the teams like the weight room because they don't have to work around the Fitness Center schedule. The weight room "gives them their own home," he said.
Women's basketball player Kristie Dunchus agrees.
"I like it because like last year we would have to wait, so this year we can get in and out with just one team at a time," Dunchus said. "It can be more relaxing because it's just our team."
Bethany Torrice, women's volleyball coach, said she thinks her team has "really enjoyed having their own separate facility" for team workouts.
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