Nathan Kimball ’27, staff writer
LVC’s new weight room represents more than an upgrade in equipment; it reflects the growth and changing standards of the college’s athletic department.
The new facility was designed to accommodate up to 70 student-athletes, while remaining open to non-student-athletes. The renovation acknowledges the prior limitations of the previous weight room. The update helps fix the prior lack of functional space and poor flow, making it difficult for larger groups to train to their maximum level.
“My vision for the new weight room was to help elevate the student-athletes' experience while creating a space that allows us to train more effectively,” Alex Sabo, LVC’s head strength and conditioning coach, said.
The layout was designed to fill the unmet needs of LVC’s athletic teams by adding 16 racks and expanded areas for warm-ups, plyometrics, sprinting and medicine-ball throws. Sabo prioritized equipment that fits LVC’s free-weight training style by including a larger selection of barbells, dumbbells and racks. These provide athletes with versatility without taking up excessive floor space. Besides free weights, additional machines and sports-science technology, such as force plates, also give coaches more tools to maximize athlete potential and aid return-to-sport programs.
“As a former athlete here at LVC, I am most proud of where we have come from as a department,” Sabo said. “When I first came to LVC, we had five racks and some machines. Now we have a state-of-the-art facility with 16 racks, high-level sports science technology, more machines and dumbbells than anyone could imagine and more."
Sabo hopes the new weight room will be the beginning of continued growth for LVC athletics. The new facility lifts the standard for student-athlete training while giving the college an additional tool to compete with some of the best programs in the nation.