For decades, Bridgeport High School has more than done its part to reinforce a positive trend when the phrase “student-athlete” is mentioned. After all, when you’ve had so many state championships in multiple sports and are recognized for academic achievement over and over, it’s apparent that the concept is far from an oxymoron.

 

Most recently, one of BHS’ teachers – a former standout athlete himself – helped put the term to use by utilizing his students, utilizing his students who were athletes and utilizing his own skills and scrap material to address a school sports team need.

 

For those that are close to the Indians football program, they know a key part of their success involves the weight lifting program that is in offseason mode right now. Although BHS Coach Josh Nicewarner would prefer to have an expanded facility, he knows that’s not in the offing right now.

 

However, there are other needs. Some needs more pressing than others. Some items more expensive than others.

 

As it turned out, one item was something Wilhelm could help out with. And it involved something BHS educator Fred Wilhelm as a former athlete (and one that was not only a scholarship basketball player at then Salem College who also played football for then Coach Terry Bowden where he finished up as a free agent signee of the Cincinnati Bengals) knew was necessary.

 

“(Assistant Football Coach) Adam King approached me about the issue. He and (Assistant Coach) John Cole told me what was needed, a design was produced and I went to the scrap wood pile to see if we could get it done,” said Wilhelm.

 

As it turns out, the technology education teacher at BHS was able to find the scrap wood to get it done. And he was able to put student and athlete together for a project helping the school, the students and the sports program.

 

“On the surface it doesn’t seem like much, but they needed a place to store the rubber weight lifting plates. They didn’t have it,” said Wilhelm. “Back when I played and you were lifting, you went into the weight room things were always put away. When you were done, you were expected to put the weights back and leave weight room in the same condition as when you arrived. When you have no place to put the weights that makes things rough.”

 

It was an issue for Nicewarner. It wasn’t one that he was losing sleep over, but it was something that bothered him.

 

“You try to do the best with what you have and having a plate holder was something we would have liked to have had,” said Nicewarner. “The thing is, they’re costly and we’re like every other coaching staff in that we all have wants and needs and with the price and with other needs, this was more of a luxury want.

 

“Did I like having the weights left on the bars or the floor? Not particularly,  but we needed other things for the weight room and we, quite frankly, saw the storage area for the plates at this point more of a luxury,” he continued. “Basically, we just dealt with having the issue.”

 

Enter Adam King. King, as a former West Virginia University football player and wrestler, is no stranger to the weight room. As he thought about and continually saw the issue, he came up with the idea and approached Wilhelm.

                                                                                  

After that, it was all systems go.

 

“We had students helping out, including a couple of football players, so it turned into more of a class project. It’s good to see the students working, seeing the boys and girls getting dirty from doing work and even getting paint on them,” said Wilhelm. “The really great thing is that they didn’t mind at all. I think they felt that doing something for their classmates and for the school was a pretty good deal.”

 

Another pretty good deal? How about the completion time.

 

“It took one week to complete,” said Wilhelm. “I can’t complain about the effort.”

 

Earlier this week, on Tuesday to be exact, it was moved from BHS to the weight room at Wayne Jamison Field. On Wednesday, it was seeing plenty of use by those in the football weightlifting program. And among those putting away weights and getting out new ones from the multi-compartmented unit were football players and Wilhelm students Jacob Goldizen and Hayden Nutter.

 

“Goldizen was my assistant with the project,” Wilhelm joked.

 

Now, the BHS weight room may not be the perfect setup. Thanks to Wilhelm and his students, it’s a better setup.

 

“The fact that Fred was able to make us something like this and be so agreeable to do it will help us unclutter a crowded space and have long-term benefits,” said Nicewarner. “Anyone that knows Fred knows that he’s a good guy. He’s always supportive of anything that benefits the school and he’s always been supportive of myself and the football program. It was a matter of asking for help and Fred provided it.”

 

“Fred is a coach and he’s also been involved with football so he knew what may have seemed like a simple request meant,” Nicewarner continued. “When you played at the level he played at, even though he’s a great golf coach, he’s also a football guy. I don’t want to speak for him, but I think when he saw he had the materials needed he just jumped at it and we appreciate it.”

 

Wilhelm said he was glad to help with self-contained weight storage unit.

 

“This was a good project because it involved the students helping out the school and helping out the need of a sports program. We were able to put academics and athletics together and everyone benefitted,” said Wilhelm.

 

Benefitting the most were the BHS student-athletes. After that were the students who helped that may not compete and the athletes who are using the new unit that weren’t part of the project.

 

Thanks to Fred Wilhelm, when it comes to the concept of student-athlete, Bridgeport High School is still getting it right.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Coach Josh Nicewarner with Jacob Goldizen and Hayden Nutter, while the second photo shows players putting away weight. In the third photo is the finished unit, while teacher and golf Coach Fred Wilhelm is shown below.