Kiski Area unveils state-of-the-art fitness facility

It’s out with the old and in with the new at Kiski Area High School.

A state-of-the-art fitness facility was unveiled to the public during a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The equipment cost just over $202,000.

The project was made possible by a hefty donation from the Kiski Area Education Foundation, which raises money for scholarships and programs that benefit district students.

“It was definitely in a sad state,” Kiski Area Superintendent Misty Slavic said of the formerly outdated fitness rooms. “Thank you to everyone who was involved. We greatly appreciate it. To see our kids’ faces using it — it’s truly something.”

Kiski Area junior Brennan Moore, a safety and wide receiver on the football team, worked out on a new bench press Wednesday while his father, Dustin, spotted him for safety.

“This means a lot. It was so bad. It was depressing in there,” Brennan Moore said of the workout areas he has used over the past three years.

Larry Enciso, a high school health and physical education teacher, spearheaded the effort in September with a presentation to foundation board members.

The board unanimously approved a donation of $172,000 to cover most of the cost of the 3,400-square-foot facility.

The district paid for the rest with more than $30,000 in funds from athletic ticket sales.

Freshmen Abrahm Taylor and Cooper Roscosky said they plan to use the new facility almost daily.

The previous equipment they used was damaged and old, dating to the 1970s and ’80s.

“It sure smells better now. The old one smelled like dust — and the 1980s,” Taylor said. “I’m thankful for how nice it looks now.”

“It’s clean, organized and looks bigger,” Roscosky said.

The equipment includes sleds, treadmills, stationary bikes, fitness monkey bars with TRX suspension, plyometric boxes, core bags, Bulgarian bags, free weights, medicine balls, two smart boards and giant fans for cooling.

The sports teams began using the revamped space about three weeks ago, but every student will have access.

Slavic noted plans include offering open gym times for the public after student schedules are finalized.

Bill Roscosky, a 1986 Kiski Area graduate, recalled using the recently removed fitness equipment when he was a student.

“When I went here, it was basic — three Nautilus machines. My son is a freshman on the wrestling team, and he’s going to benefit greatly from this,” he said.

Said Enciso: “The kids absolutely love it, and that’s why we did it. We wanted to create an environment for physical education students and athletes to come in here and enjoy working out. We want to promote a healthy lifestyle.”

The renovations were completed three weeks ahead of schedule and on budget, Enciso said.

Some of the usable old gym equipment was donated to Kiski Area Intermediate School.

“When this all started, it was awesome to see how the whole school came together,” Enciso said. “We had students helping, and the administrators were attentive and incredible during this process.”