The South weight room will receive $140,559 worth of new equipment during the week of spring break as a gift from the South Booster Club, Casey Wright, Associate Principal of Operations and Student Experiences, said.

The D225 Board of Education approved the donation to install new weight racks and equipment in the weights room after the Nov. 25 board meeting, Wright said. The weight room, which is located inside of the fieldhouse, is used daily by students before, during, and after school. Students have the opportunity to use the weight room to fulfill their Physical Education requirements by taking either the Strength and Conditioning or the Sports Performance classes, he said. Additionally, many of South’s athletic teams use the space for conditioning, Wright explained.

“These racks will support a wide range of upper and lower-body strength training exercises, allowing students and athletes to perform [better in] workouts to build overall muscle strength and endurance,” Wright said. “The equipment includes advanced safety features, providing a secure environment for users of all skill levels.”

Tyler Jorgensen, Head Strength Coach, conducted an in-depth analysis of the current equipment in the weights room when he was hired in 2022 and recommended the replacement of the racks. Next athletic Director Tom Mietus presented the project to the Booster Club, where it was then reviewed and approved by the D225 Board in November, Jorgensen said. Some of the new features include custom branding featuring the Titan logo, increased storage for equipment, and easier to move bar hooks, Jorgensen said. These features, in addition to the durability of the equipment, will help to ensure maximum safety for students.

“[The] layout and footprint of the [new] racks will create an improved environment that will [for] allow better utilization of the room to safely implement instruction,” Jorgensen said.