Early this year, renovations finished on Enloe’s weightlifting room, which had long struggled with inadequate equipment coupled with heavy student traffic. The renovations were encouraged by teachers and coaches across the Enloe Healthful Living department.

The refurbishments were expansive, including the replacement of all racks with new, double-sided racks, increasing the room’s capacity twofold. The new racks are easier to adjust, which improves ease and safety for users. The efforts also replaced outdated barbells and added new machines, including lat-pull and row mechanisms, increasing workout variance for students.

Below are before and after images showing the extent of the weight room modifications.

“I think [the renovations have] increased … the use of the equipment. I’ve seen students more excited to get in here,” says Ryan Stocke, the coach of Enloe’s men’s lacrosse team. His team will be one of several at the school to utilize the improved weightlifting equipment. He notes that the renovations have been “a huge help” because “with the increase in the amount of weights that we have, it’s opened up availability to allow more teams to get in here more times.”

Stocke hopes the new weightlifting accommodations will help weightlifting students develop their abilities. He notes that an important goal of the renovations was “getting kids pumped up about lifting weights, getting [kids] bigger, stronger, [and] faster, [and] helping out our athletic program.” He aims for the renovations to encourage “kids to start developing a passion for strength training and learning how they can improve.” 

This passion is important for encouraging student participation in Enloe’s robust 38-team athletic program and for motivating students to join Enloe’s strength training classes. Stocke explains, “Not only [do the renovations] give us the opportunity to increase numbers in our weight training classes, but they also give us the opportunity to open up the Wellness Center for other possible weight training classes. Hopefully, it will help us increase our numbers and participation in physical education classes overall.”

At this time, there are no open hours for Enloe’s weight rooms. However, Stocke is hopeful that “there may be opportunities for clubs in the future.” For now, you can experience Enloe’s refreshed glimmering gem of a gym by joining Enloe’s weightlifting classes or any of its sports teams.