Weber County - Over the past two years, Weber State University’s athletic program has shown the country just how amazing their athletes are with wins in the Big Sky Tournament for sports, such as men’s basketball, women’s soccer, cross country, and others. So what’s helping these athletes reach their potential and stay ahead of the competition? Part of it has to do with their new training facility located at Marquardt Field House, inside the Weber County Sports Complex next to the Dee Events Center. This facility is unlike any other one found in the Big Sky Conference, which is definitely a huge advantage for these athletes.
The facility, which opened in the fall of 2013, includes a brand new indoor turf field, weight room and VertiMax training area, all of which have state-of-the-art equipment. Coach John Henderson, who is the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach and Assistant Athletic Trainer for the facility, said he is very pleased with the way the facility functions. “The equipment and layout of the facility allow us to rehabilitate injured athletes and return them to sports participation seamlessly through our integrated model of sports medicine and strength and conditioning,” he said through an e-mail. “We are able to use the VertiMax units to develop speed and explosive power, as well as functional rehabilitation movements that would otherwise be difficult to perform with resistance the way we can with the VertiMaxes. The facility is designed to benefit all of our student athletes and has been utilized by just about everyone in one way or another from skill practice, strength and conditioning, to rehabilitation.”
Coach Henderson also mentioned how the facility has something for every athlete to use no matter what sport he or she competes in, which allows them to have an individualized training program. “The Power-Lift combo racks were built with custom features such as extended height to accommodate the tallest athletes, softball size pull-up grips, in-floor lifting platforms, and television monitors in the weight room that replay athletes movements to enhance the student-athletes’ ability to learn proper form and technique.” Trainers can also monitor and track an athletes’ progress throughout their training thanks to the technology available at the facility.
Most importantly though, Coach Henderson says he enjoys seeing the different relationships that are built with the athletes who use the facility. He mentioned how a lot of the athletes enjoy coming back to the facility to continue to train, even after they’ve graduated. “Watching them development over the course of their careers as student-athletes and as outstanding people in the community is a great reward. Training them in this facility lets them know that what they do is very special and important to our community. The sacrifice, commitment, and drive that they possess is incredible. They are truly inspirational young people.”
The facility was brought about thanks to a partnership with Weber County, Weber State University, the Robert and Annette Marquardt family, the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation and former WSU football athlete and alumnus Roger Trinchero, among other donors. Needless to say, athletes and trainers will continue to perform to the best of their ability to keep bringing pride back to Weber State and the community.
