New racks for heavy metal
By James Card
Last week a semi backed up to the entrance of the Weyauwega-Fremont Fitness Center delivering new equipment.
No forklift was necessary. It was all unloaded by students and volunteers and later they sprawled all of the parts out on rubberized flooring for assembly.
The new equipment is composed of three double half-racks that form six stations for working out.
Also arrived was a plate-loaded reverse hyper machine, a bench device for exercising the back, hamstrings and glutes. Two new decline benches also arrived.
An Assault Runner will be arriving later. It is a curved-deck non-motorized treadmill that is tougher to run on than electric treadmills.
The double half-racks are manufactured by Dynamic Fitness and Strength and are painted with school colors and have the school’s name cut into the metal framework. There are extra features on each station such as pull-up bars, pegs for doing elastic band work and barbell landmines.
Built into the racks are shelves for holding dumbbells, kettle bells and medicine balls which helps keep the space organized and tidy. “Before that we had no storage,” said Teal Billington, fitness center director.
“I’ve been the director now for six years as soon as it opened. We’ve been keeping it updated. Getting new equipment, keeping the community members happy and working with the student-athletes as well,” she said.
The upgrade costs approximately $40,000, including some other upgrades from earlier this summer. At the start of this year, the fitness center raised its rates for residents in the community yet the fees are still a better deal than at comparable exercise venues. Monthly and annual rates for individuals are $20 and $100 and for family memberships it is $40 monthly and $200 annually.