North Rockland High School

Thiells, NY

When discussing the new fitness center at North Rockland High School with Mike Castaldo, their PE/Health Coordinator and Assistant Athletic Director, you can feel the excitement in his voice. He recalls that at the start of this project, the goal was to give students and staff a safe and modern space to focus on their physical wellbeing. Mike and the staff at North Rockland are well aware of the positive correlation between physical activity, overall wellbeing, and academic success. These elements go hand in hand and the combination is a recipe for everyone at the high school to succeed, whether it be students, student athletes, or staff members.

Matching Energy

When seeking out the right partners for this project, North Rockland asked other schools and colleagues for recommendations. They interviewed and met with various prospects. They decided to proceed with Advantage after meeting with Matt Bogumil, ASF-North VP of Sales, who won them over with his inspiring energy and ideas that resonated with North Rockland’s vision.

“The relationship with Matt and Advantage seemed so easy and fluid. He listened to our vision and communicated consistently. We loved his energy and ideas to help our staff and students feel a sense of ownership in the facility. ”

MIKE CASTALDO
PE/HEALTH COORDINATOR, ASSISTANT ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
NORTH ROCKLAND HIGH SCHOOL

A powerful synergy transpired and Matt and the Advantage team got to work with North Rockland High School to create their dream fitness space.

The Equipment Line-up

The extensive and diverse equipment assortment was the result of a collective effort. Matt and Mike collaborated with teachers, staff and coaches at North Rockland to come up with a mix of equipment that would meet all student needs.

There are a multitude of cardio machines from Precor, including Ellipticals, Treadmills, and Upright Bikes, as well as an AirRunner from Assault Fitness. The strength circuit area of the facility is very impressive, boasting a wide variety of Precor Resolute strength machines so exercisers can focus on specific muscle groups.

One element that really stands out in the space is the custom Escape Fitness HIT HUB Functional Frame. Spanning over 25 feet, this frame offers unlimited exercise possibilities. With an incredible assortment of accessories like punching bags, Bulgarian bags, Endura balls, TRX bands and more, exercisers are able to mix up their workouts and apply functional fitness techniques to their training.

Students and staff also have access to an array of other Escape Fitness functional tools such as a quad sled, Plyo Boxes, and TIYRs, which can be used along the 67-foot custom red turf lane.

Raider Pride

The facility is oozing with “Raider Pride” as seen along the 12 custom laser cut Power Lift half racks. Other custom embellishments consist of logo’d bench plates, bumpers plates, and bar catches. Mike points out that the phrase “Tradition of Excellence” throughout is significant to the school and the local Thiells community. We love the celebration of school pride in this facility and appreciate how meaningful it is to everyone who uses the space.

The Ecore Beast Rubber flooring throughout the facility is specially designed to not only benefit exercisers but also endure in the space for years to come. It is shock and sound absorbent, fade resistant, slip resistant and perfect for the different zones in the facility.

The Big Reveal

Since the completion of the room, students have expressed excitement and enthusiasm every time they walk into it. The “wow” factor has been rewarding and powerful for the North Rockland faculty. They feel the facility has given students a sense of importance and a means for them to be their best.

A Lasting Legacy

Matt and the Advantage team share the same level of enthusiasm for the project's results as the Raiders do. Collaborating closely with Mike and the dedicated staff at North Rockland, Advantage successfully helped convert this space into a source of pride. The transformation assures that the facility will remain part of their “tradition of excellence” for years to come.