Tucked under the main floor of MFS, the weight room has become a popular hub for students and faculty alike to spend their free periods and lunches. Whether individuals want to strength train, warm up for an upcoming sports game, or improve their overall fitness, the weight room provides a space for all to work on their physical health and fosters a strong community of student-athletes and teachers who share collective support for one another in their fitness goals.
The weight room was opened to middle schoolers in the eigth grade a few years ago and is open to students and faculty as early as 6:00 a.m. to as late as 5:00 p.m., according to MFS Athletic Trainer Kevin Cauley; students are encouraged to come in the room whenever they are free, as long as Cauley or another physical education instructor can advise the room. With long-term experience in strength training, Cauley monitors the weight room and helps students improve their physical health and wellness. Cauley’s office is located inside of the weight room.
Ben Burke ’27 noted that Cauley’s role as a trained professional helps students feel more comfortable as there is an expert who watches the room at all times.
Since introducing middle schoolers to the program, Cauley said, “Each season it seems like there [are] definitely a lot of regulars.”
“With the eighth grade this year, we had a really good turnout,” said Cauley. “A lot of kids were trying it out.”
Regarding the attendance of students in the Upper School setting, Cauley noted that “the [highest turnout] is pinpointed down to the same group of kids.”
Students such as DJ Johnson ’28 use the Weight Room whenever it is open, during free periods, lunches, and after school.
Terry Zhang ’28 also stated, “If I can find the time, I try to use [the weight room] every day during lunchtime.”
Students have an array of reasons for going to the weight room, with many of them having specific goals towards strengthening their bodies and improving their physical health.
Weight room frequent user Olivia Ross ’28 said, “I get to increase my strength and stamina for sports [and] for overall health.”
Similarly, Trinity Sellers ’28 said, “I use [the room] so I can increase my strength in basketball.”
However, beyond just using the equipment in the weight room to improve physical health, students go to the weight room to be part of the strong community created by students exercising with one another in the shared space.
Ross recalled her first MFS memories in eighth grade, coming from the Middle School weight room program, speaking on the bonds she made with other students working out.
“The [weight room] is definitely more of a community thing because when I first came here in eighth grade, I first came to the gym, and I made most of my friends here,” said Ross.
Sellers touched on the strong relationships students build in the weight room and said, “I think [the weight room] is more of a community thing because we do talk a lot.”
Burke spoke on the community environment of the weight room.
“Honestly, I feel like there’s a layer of respect in there, and no one’s going to bother you,” said Burke. “Everyone’s pretty chill in there and also pretty encouraging. You can usually trust the people in there that if something goes wrong or something bad happens, they’re going to have your back.”
Cauley mentioned that faculty also use the weight room, although not as consistently as students.
“I think they get busy during the school year with teaching in their classrooms and things like that, so there are times during the year where it’s busier,” said Cauley.
Speaking about his own drive for helping students achieve their fitness goals, Cauley said, “I was introduced to strength training in the weight room starting when I was in high school. I’ve always had a passion for that [and] now I’m in a position as an athletic trainer here to introduce the younger generations to that same thing. I think there are a lot of good qualities with strength training.”
