Bridgeport High School’s Matt DeMotto has overseen and been involved with countless projects since in his current capacity as principal and his previous capacity as vice principal. He’s witnessed a whole lot of activity at the school on Johnson Avenue.

 

With that in mind, it would probably take something really impressive to get him to take pause when asked what he thought of the latest project. And that latest project is really impressive.

 

“I’m very pleased,” said DeMotto, with a very heavy emphasis on very. “It’s on par with the type of programs we offer at Bridgeport High School. It is impressive.”

 

The “it” in this equation is the new weight room at Wayne Jamison Field. The old, outdated, way too small facility has been updated and expanded with 1,300 additional square feet.

 

Assistant Superintendent of Schools Jimmy Lopez said the entire project – which included the upgrade of the press box – will be in excess of $400,000 when all is said and done. And we’ll get back to the funding toward the end of this blog.

 

While the press box was on its death bed, it’s pretty safe to say the weight room was a zombie – dead, but still going. Now, both are back to life.

 

Most have seen the press box from the field, and many have been inside it, but the weight room, that’s another story. Not only has it just recently been completed, but outside the new block painted walls, there is nothing to see unless you happen to go by when a door is open.

 

If so, what you will see is impressive.  I mean really impressive. If you do not believe me or DeMotto, ask BHS football Coach Tyler Phares.

 

“It’s unbelievable, just unreal,” said Phares. “It’s the nicest I’ve ever been around.”

 

Understand, that does not mean the nicest he has ever been around while at BHS. That would not have taken much effort or a six-figure project.

 

“We used to get what we could, which a lot of times was donated equipment or even borrowed items that become a mismatch over time,” said Phares. “Actually, that is fairly typical for a lot of athletic programs.”

 

What Bridgeport has now may involve some typical items, but it does not look anything typical. There are 11 racks, 11 power and clean areas, dip racks, pullup stations and pullup bars and so much more. Some of the more includes FieldTurf in the middle for sled pushing and plyometrics for change of direction drills. There is even a sound system donated by one of the BHS football alumni surrounding the entire new facility.

 

The showstopper?

 

“Every rack has been laser engraved with the school’s logo. The plates and bars are personalized with the school’s name and logo; even the leather has something representing the school,” said Phares. “This thing is decked out to the nines. A lot of kids, not just football, will get a lot of good use out of this.”

 

DeMotto was quick to emphasize that point as well.

 

“It’s not just a football weight room, but a Bridgeport High School weight room that can be utilized by any coach and their program that has coaches supervising the usage of it,” said DeMotto. “We’ll see other team sports use it. I know basketball has already lifted in there as has football. The best part is you can get so many more student-athletes in there.”

 

DeMotto’s statement on more students using the facility is not hyperbole. Phares said the capacity has nearly tripled.

 

“Prior to this, we could safely have about 22 kids in there. Now we can hold up to 60 kids in a new, safer venue that has new lighting and heating, a new drop ceiling, and a big garage door if it gets too hot,” said Phares. “Hopefully, we’ll see more kids out for football and other sports to take advantage of it.”

 

Phares said the old weight room was in such bad condition if he felt they “may have lost a few from coming out or coming back” because of it. Now, it is an asset for all to use.

 

The last step? Paying it off. The Harrison County Board of Education voted to provide $150,000 to the project, which is the same amount it provided other county high schools for similar efforts. DeMotto believes the public, which he said has been helpful so far, will continue to step up.

 

“We still are fundraising, and we still have our tiers to recognize donors. We’re in a good position, but we still have bills to pay going forward associated with the weight room,” he said. “We want to take care of that in short order.”

 

For those interested in donating, either personally or as a business, contact the school at 304-326-7122 or 304-326-7124 and ask for Mr. DeMotto. To see the tiers available and what is received at each tier, click HERE. 

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows BHS Principal Matt DeMotto at Jamison Field in a file photo by Ben Queen Photography, while BHS football Coach Tyler Phares, left, and Assistant John Cole are shown in front of some of the new equipment inside the new facility that shows the BHS detailing. More photos are below.