By Sebastian Wiegand, Sports Editor

With gym memberships costing anywhere from $20.00-$40.00 each month, and the weight room open for students after school four days a week, why would anyone spend money on a gym membership?

“I don’t feel they have the machines necessary to work out,” said Senior Christian Calkins on the weight room, “and they don’t give you enough time to work out after school.”

The weight room lacks weight loss machines, such as treadmills, ellipticals and stair climbers that big gyms like, 24 Hour Fitness, or Planet Fitness have.

“Ideally we’d like to have them,” said Gym teacher and football coach David Ramthun.  Due to the lack of space and the cost of those machines the weight room is unable to have them. Mr. Ramthun also added that students tend to break machines like those adding to their expensiveness.

Another thing big gyms have to offer that Rangeview can’t, are open playing courts.  Playing basketball or volleyball are hobbies of many students here at Rangeview.  However, the courts in the gym are taken on a regular basis by Rangeview’s sports teams as they use them for practice.

Another thing that makes the weight room less attractive is the fact that it is only open for around an hour after school on Monday through Thursday, while many gyms are open 24/7 for people to come and go as they please.

However, Junior Eric Burke disagrees, “You have all of the equipment that you need, and spotters,” he said, “there is no reason to pay money.”

Quite a few students agree with Eric, as there is anywhere between ten and thirty students in the weight room after school on any given day.

It’s also easy to be able to work out as soon as school is over without having to catch a ride or walk to the nearest gym.

“It’s most Convenient,” said Senior Ronald McQueen,”it’s quicker to go here.”

 Some students, Including Ronald, double up; they both go to the weight room after school and have memberships at gyms. Ronald also commented that he tries to work out two times per day.  That isn’t possible at the weight room because it is only opened for 1 hour.

“I have one,” said Junior Nashime Guzman, “so I can work out on the weekends because the weight room isn’t open.”

Social Studies teacher Mike Hamilton, who runs the weight room after school on Mondays and Wednesdays takes a different approach.

“It is a chance for me to hang out with kids in a different environment.” He said.  Now that he’s  done coaching baseball this is one of the few opportunities he has to hang out with students outside of the classroom.  

Due to the convenience of the weight room many students chose to work out there.  However because of the limited opportunities and machinery to be in the weight room, many students choose to also have a gym membership or avoid the weight room altogether.