Summer reconstruction leads to a new and improved student weight room: Pandhandle Performance Zone
This summer, reconstruction of the West Liberty student athlete weight room, now called the Panhandle Performance Zone or PPZ, began. The new Panhandle Performance Zone brings athletes back inside, and just in time for the transition into the colder winter weather. During the reconstruction, all equipment was discarded except for the few pieces that were moved outside into a temporary outdoor gym area in the West Family Stadium for student athletes to use in the interim.
The new and improved indoor weight room is ready for our topper athletes. A portion of the football team was able to use the PPZ. Wide receiver, Tariq Glenn, said he had a great time working out in the PPZ, “Having a new weight room brought new energy and life into the building.”
The new facility provides the space and opportunity for West Liberty’s student athletes to further their abilities. Zayne Brakeall, a member of the Women’s Soccer Team and Track and Field team said, “I think it’s not only a great form of strength training and injury prevention for most teams, but it’s a great source of team bonding.”
The new workout space adds to the vibrant atmosphere of WLU athletics. “Being in the weight room helps my team to come together and work towards a goal. We all want to be fit and have good technical ability, but those things aren’t as useful if you don’t have strength on and off the ball,” said Brakeall.
The PPZ has a 1,100 square foot expansion, new lighting, new flooring, and new workout equipment. Around 20 new squat racks and custom dumbbells are just some of the equipment that can be found in the athlete’s new weight room. Student athlete, Nina Billotto, says she is excited to get into the PPZ and use the new equipment with her team.
Offensive Line/Strength & Conditioning coach, Daniel Hopkins has been keeping twitter updated with pictures of the PPZ and its new equipment throughout the reconstruction process. You can see Hopkins tweets @coach_dhopkins.
Stay up-to-date with your Hilltopper Athletes by checking out Hilltoppersports.com and thetrumpetwlu.org each week.
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