PHOTOS BY MIGUEL JUAREZ staff Metuchen High School students Laura Kuchar and Melissa Adamowsky get a good workout on gym equipment donated to the school by the Ford Motor Co., which recently closed in Edison.
In his two years as Metuchen High School’s athletic director, John Cathcart has emphasized weight training.
"Ever since I got here, I’ve been trying to resurrect our weight room," he said in a recent phone conversation. "Strength training leads to winning teams and more fit students."
The problem was, he said, the equipment is very expensive, wears out quickly and there’s only so much money in the budget.
So, almost a year ago, Cathcart took a chance. Upon hearing that the Ford plant in Edison would be closing, he figured he might as well write them a letter and see if they had any fitness equipment they might want to donate.
John Brown and Lauren Rush, crunch and curl their way to better muscles.
"I forgot about it," he said. "It was kind of a shot in the dark. Then, they called about six weeks ago."
In short order, the high school found itself on the receiving end of a windfall that included five treadmills, three stair masters, six exercise bikes, two rowing machines, three sets of dumbbells and five benches.
Ford also donated a room full of mirrors, which Cathcart said will eventually be put up to give the room the look and feel of a professional gym.
Cathcart said the students have taken to the equipment, and not just the athletes.
Metuchen High School students Heather Brown and Lindsey Calabrese pedal their way to better fitness as they enjoy new gym equipment.
"The beauty of this stuff is, it really makes our physical education classes go," he said.
The weight room has also become quite popular with the faculty, Cathcart said.
"If we bought this [equipment] brand new, it would have cost $100,000," he said.
"As sad as it is to see that place close, people losing their jobs, this has been tremendous," the athletic director added.
Joe DiMeglio and Kate Kuchar test the new equipment.
— Bryan Sabella