Enclosed on two sides by large windows and offering views into the Miller Arena, the new workout center has both energetic and colorful design – with lots of Middletown Middie purple of course – and new exercise equipment options.
“When I first saw this place I was absolutely blown away,” said senior Sean Ramsey, during a recent physical education class in the center.
“With our facilities before and then upgrading to something like this, it’s just absolutely unbelievable. We were used to all these extremely old facilities with extremely old equipment and then upgrading to all this brand new equipment, in a collegiate-level training facility,” said Ramsey.
Miller Arena, which opened in December, features two professional-style baskets on Jerry Lucas Court, four 9-foot by 12-foot LED scoreboards, bright lights, a high-quality sound system, a walking track, a wrestling room, a strength center, athletic offices, trophy cases and an attached community room.
The arena is just part of the improvements and building taking place on school system’s Breiel Boulevard campus.
Middletown High School, which opened in 1969, is being renovated as part of a $96 million project that includes a new Middletown Middle School being built next to the high school.
Middletown junior Hannah Harig said “it’s really incredible to see it in our high school and to see all the new equipment and things that everyone can use.”
Aaron Zupka, Middletown Schools’ athletic director, said the inclusive mission of the performance center is key to its future success.
“This is an amazing, state-of-the-art facility but it’s not just for athletics,” said Zupka.
“Our physical education students are here working out … there are some great opportunities for them. There is nothing nicer out there (for area students),” he said.
“There are a lot of different resources and tools for them to use and it’s a great for our PE teachers to come in here and to make part of their curriculum,” he said. “Keeping healthy kids means more production in the classroom.”
VIDEO: See students using the new Middletown High School athletic performance center @journal-news.com
About the Author