EL CENTRO —  The Los Angeles Chargers recently gifted Central Union High School $65,000 as part of the San Diego Chargers Champions Foundation. 

As per coordinators, the San Diego Chargers Champions Foundation provides Southern California Schools with an opportunity to write a grant paper in order to get the award. 

After the vetting process, winners are selected and this time Central was designated as one of the recipients. 

“Ultimately, the athletics administration decides how the funds will be utilized," said Spartan Athletics Director Joshua Wise. “I got together with our principal and head physical education instructor with a proposal and they all agreed.” 

As per Spartan Athletics, the plan of attack was to tackle the fund dispersant in phases.

“For stage-one, we had a desperate need for dumbbells,” said Wise. “They were old and chipping.” 

Wise also mentioned the dire need for more bumper plates (pads for weights that you could drop on the ground). 

“We got 19 sets of new bumper plates for our 19 squat racks, “said Wise. “Each squat rack has a set of 10 pound, 25 pound, 35 pound, and 45 pound bumper plates. For dumbbells, we got two sets of five pounds to 50 pounds and we also got one set of 55 pounds to 100 pounds. We were fortunate enough to get the opportunity to put our Central logos and our brandings on those weights. A Spartan head logo on the dumbbells and Spartans and Central logo on the bumper plates. Stage one took up about one-third of the funds donated to us by the Los Angeles Chargers.” 

Wise also expressed the impact of the poor air quality and the urgency of having adequate indoor facilities for the students.

“The reason the Los Angeles Chargers gave up this grant is because I pitched to them that our students deserve the opportunity to perform physical activities in a safe setting,” said Wise. “A lot of our kids are discouraged to go outside because of the heat. For many months out of the years, it’s over 100 degrees. I just wanted to provide our student athletes the opportunity of different options.” 

Wise then went on to elaborate about Phase-2.

“We added six different types of machines - two different types of treadmills, ellipticals, we bought air bikes, stationary bikes, rowers, a ski herd, and box jumps,” said Wise. “Basically, what we are doing is creating a whole other classroom. This classroom is going to give the kids an opportunity to do physical fitness inside an air conditioned facility. Many of our kids suffer from respiratory issues such as asthma, wheezing, and allergies which are triggered by the air pollution due to the crops and dust. When they can’t breathe, they can’t breathe. When you put the kids inside a building like ours, they feel safe, they are safe, and they are going to get a heck of a workout when it’s all said and done.“

Wise addressed how the funds are already being put to use.  

“The weight room is already in place,” said Wise. “All we had to do was put the dumbbells and bumper plates inside and we’re using them already.  Right next to the weight room, we have a smaller room that we will utilize. It’s going to be a snug fit. I got 31 pieces of cardio equipment plus five box jumps. So, that’s 36 pieces of equipment. I'm thinking 40 students can fit in this room with 31 students will be using the equipment then we’ll have five boxes where students can do box jumps, step-ups and possible if there is enough space for full body workout for abs, push-ups, and burpees. A full-on fitness center right next to the weight room.”

Wise concluded with his vision for Spartan student athletes to excel and evolve during their time and Central and for ever after. 

“This whole project is going to produce more well rounded student athletes for us here last Central,” said Wise. “I think they will be able to compete at a high level more frequently. Not only will this benefit Central but also the student athletes as individuals. The have the opportunity to be in the best shapes of their lives if they really put their minds to it. What we want the kids to take here from high school is a life-long experience that they enjoy.”

Sports Editor and News Reporter

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