Spring construction set for Gehlen Wellness Center

(Photo contributed) The Linda Freking-Bouma Health and Wellness Center at Gehlen Catholic Schools will be added to the east side of the school's back gymnasium and will provide a new handicapped accessible entrance for the school. [Click to enlarge]

Construction on the addition is expected to start in the spring, according to Tony Gunter, the school's high school athletic director, teacher and coach.

"We have a weight room, 20 by 40 feet, and we've used all the space possible," said Gunter. "It's been my goal for quite some time to increase the space for our weight room. We will finally see it come true."

After first looking at a free-standing facility, local construction firms determined the new wellness facility could be attached to the back gym.

"By adding on to the back gym, we're able to construct a new entrance to the school, and make the entrace handicapped accessible," Gunter explained. "It will also help the flow of people when we have tournaments as well, such as getting to the concession areas."

The revised plan includes a 47'-by-90' facility with dumbbell workout area, three bench presses, three new squat racks, a multipurpose rack, four 8'-x-6' platforms, two bikes, two ellipticals, three treadmills, plus room for plyometrics, box jumps, jammer, shoulder press, incline press, leg curl and leg extension.

Gehlen Catholic Development Director Lisa Niebuhr said cost issues were the reason the school first looked at a free-standing building.

"By adding the facility to the back gym, we can better accomodate the needs of the Gehlen family and guests and improve accessibility to both gyms," Niebuhr said.

The new facility has been several years in the making, Niebuhr explained.

"Last year, during Catholic Schools' Week, Don Bouma stepped forward with the naming gift for the facility," Niebuhr said.

The facility will be called the Linda Freking-Bouma Wellness Center.

A grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Plymouth County provided dollars for the school to cover the expense of groundwork this past fall.

Fundraising has reached the $100,000 mark in the campaign for the facility. Individuals wishing to contribute to the Linda Freking-Bouma Wellness Center may contact the school at 546-4181.

Serving on the wellness center committee in addition to Gunter and Niebuhr are Rick Kneip, Mark Schlesser, Bob Livermore, Jim Sitzmann, Jr., Bruce Kellen, Ryan Wilten and Jeremy Sitzmann.