Remodeled weight room at Heelan gives students a new place to work out

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
May 11, 2006

The weight room at Bishop Heelan High School in Sioux City recently received a face lift. The facility, which is located in the basement of the CYO building, is now known as the Wellness Center.

Jason Pratt, activities director at Heelan, noted that the expanded part of the center was known as "the mole hole" to those who attended Heelan. This should give people an idea of where the newly remodeled center is located.

"We expanded the old weight room into the 'mole hole.,'" said Pratt.

A generous donor stepped forward to help get the project rolling. The money given by the donor was used to purchase the new equipment in the Wellness Center and remodel the existing space. An archway was added in the wall between the old weight room and the "mole hole."

"All the equipment (in the old weight room) was out-dated," said Pratt. "When you have some out-dated equipment, it can be dangerous at times if not used properly. With all levels of strength and conditioning at all levels - college and high school- it is important to not only increase your performance but to prevent injuries."

According to Pratt, Dan Nelson, the school's trainer from St. Luke's Hospital in Sioux City, was part of the planning process. He assisted in picking out the equipment. Pratt added that only two pieces of equipment from the old weight room are still being used.

The new equipment includes six squat racks, five benches, two stair steppers, two treadmills, two elliptical machines, three incline/decline benches and four power platforms. Pratt pointed out that along with the two pieces of equipment that were kept, the previous weights are still being used.

The floor in the Wellness Center is made up of square pieces conducive to weight training and placed over the old tile floors.

Pratt mentioned that the name, Wellness Center, was selected because "P.E. classes will use the center. They are going to learn proper nutrition in the classroom, and then go over and use the machines to take care of their bodies."

The facility was completed in time for eighth grade orientation in February. All of the eighth graders and other perspective students looking at Heelan were able to tour the facility as part of the tour of the school. Pratt commented that the Wellness Center and the science lab are the highlights of the tours at Heelan.

Currently the Wellness Center is open every day after the students get out of school until 5:30 p.m. All Heelan students are able to use the facility to work out.

"We are looking in the future to open it up for all Catholic Schools of Sioux City faculty and staff," said Pratt. "That is something that we would definitely like to do."