The “weight” is finally over. On Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, West High celebrated the grand opening of their new athletic facilities with a ribbon cutting and open house that lasted from 4 pm to 6:30 pm. The new facilities include a new weight room, expanded wrestling room from two to three mats to accommodate girls wrestling, and a new gymnasium to make basketball and other events go by quicker now that there is a second gym. The existing gym was also renovated and repainted by the start of this year. All of the renovations in total cost $9,182,700, according to a press release with the Davenport Community School District. One coach shares his opinions on the new renovations.
“It gives our students and athletes an opportunity to have a state of the art facility that allows them to develop their strength and conditioning, … it will give me more tools for training, it allows for a bigger space for more equipment that we can hit a larger population of athletes,” physical education teacher and strength and conditioning coach Blaine Parketon said.
Moving from the weight room to the hardwood, one student rejoices knowing she will see a lot of benefit from these new renovations after coming back from injury.
“Well I am in basketball and volleyball, and I just got my ankle cleared this week, so I am very happy about that and ready to have a good season this year,” sophomore Emma Schneiderman said.
The new renovations could also bring in undecided middle school students or people considering transferring from another high school to West. One student agrees.
“I am excited for the new gym for lifting and the new basketball court for home games because I feel like a better weight room will make the program better and a new gym will make us look like a better school,” sophomore Andres Rodriguez said.
With these new facilities open and winter sports about to get underway, many athletes, fans, and coaches alike can appreciate these new facilities after the over one year long construction project.
What are we “weighting” on?
