IWA Welcomes New Strength and Conditioning Center

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Mother Patricia Gunning Gymnasium was packed with people on March 18 for the blessing and ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Strength and Conditioning Center.

High School Level students, eighth graders, faculty and staff filled the stands as Booster Club President Shawn Bevly Groesbeck welcomed all in attendance.

Junior Katie McClung recited an opening prayer and senior Jacob Garza lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Eighth graders Caitlyn Martinez and Lorin Rodriguez joined the High School Level Choir to sing the National Anthem.

Athletic Director Reynaldo Garcia Groesbeck and senior Frank McNiff III each spoke to the audience about the unveiling of the Strength and Conditioning Center and its significance as a historical moment in time.

"There is going to be a big difference in the way our athletes train," junior Meagan Acuna said.

IWA Alumnus Steve Moore '89 was the guest speaker for the event, and Father Paul Hesse from St. Pius X Church blessed the new facility.

"I love this school," Moore said. "I can't tell you the value of a Catholic high school education."

The remodeling process for the center, which replaces IWA’s previous weight room, began Feb. 21. The facility includes new flooring, lighting, and state-of-the-art strength and conditioning equipment. The center has been custom-designed for IWA athletes and complements the sports in which IWA participates as a school.

All improvements to the center have been paid for through the efforts of the IWA High School Level Booster Club.

“The new equipment that we are receiving is because of what we desire to accomplish,” Garcia said. “It’s because of what we believe in doing, as a school, is to train our students and prep them to first avoid injury. That’s the primary task. The second is to improve their performance in the sport of their choice.”

The Strength and Conditioning Center, located in the high school level’s Mother M. Patricia Gunning Gymnasium on Angel Avenue, has two FTS glides, two spin bikes, four double-sided half racks, two super benches, two leg curls and two leg extensions. It also has a V-Crunch, decline bench, dumbbell rack, back extension and leg sled.