Weighty issue — Rio Hondo ISD Athletic Director Rocky James reviews the form of incoming sophomore Carlie Rodriguez during her workout using new Hammer Strength exercise equipment at Rio Hondo High School. (Courtesy photo/Albert Villegas)
By ALBERT VILLEGAS
Special to the NEWS
RIO HONDO, TX—Last Thursday, more than 100 Rio Hondo High School student-athletes began working out with new exercise equipment worth thousands of dollars, and it didn’t cost taxpayers a penny.
That’s because RHHS, a few months ago, was named this year’s Iron Sharpens Iron Project recipient, joining Cedar Hill (near Fort Worth) and Uvalde high schools, who were awarded similar exercise equipment the past two years.
However, it wasn’t until this month that the Hammer Strength equipment began to be moved into the weight room located next to Bobcat Stadium. Once established, not only were the free weights ready for use, but exercise station bumpers, plates, flooring, and graphics, all packaged with RHHS color patterns and mascot logos, accented the look of a state-of-the-art exercise facility.
All this was made possible through the Texas High School Coaches Association Education Foundation (THSCEF), in partnership with Dallas businessman Fin Ewing.
“Our kids are so fired up, it’s unreal; so far, a week in, they have enjoyed it, and it’s made an immediate impact,” Rio Hondo Athletics Director Rocky James said.
James met Ewing when he visited RHHS toward the end of the school year and made the announcement then.
James said THSCEF had initially reached out to Rob Davies, who is the athletics director at Harlingen CISD.
James said Davies and his Assistant, AD Luis Solorio, had expressed how Rio Hondo was likely the best suitor for such a donation.
“It was during athletics period that (Ewing) had spoken to our kids, and told them a new weight room would be built; there was widespread excitement,” said James, who graduated from Harlingen High School in 1986 and played for the Cardinals’ football team. “Months went by and nothing was done because it was all in the planning stages, and we had our powerlifting teams still competing, so there was a lot of waiting around.”
Once school begins, RHHS boys and girls will have fifth (11:40 a.m.) and ninth (3:05 p.m.) periods to use the exercise room.
Two of those student-athletes are incoming juniors Ximena Gonzalez (volleyball and track) and Devin Raymond (football and basketball).
Gonzalez explains that, in preparation for the volleyball season, which begins with tryouts and the start of the season in August, her training method revolves around “explosive workouts.”
She and Lady ’Cat teammates, to enhance their vertical game on the court, may work on building their lower bodies for jumping and agility, and their upper bodies to have arm power for hitting and blocking a volleyball.
“With this new equipment, it looks like we will have more opportunities to develop and get more training than ever before,” Gonzalez said. “It’s new to us, so there are things we haven’t been able to do yet in terms of training. I’m impressed, and it’s going to benefit us tremendously.”
Raymond said that compared to the exercise equipment he had used in the past couple of years, this is a vast improvement.
“It’s a big jump, and we’re blessed to have this opportunity at our school,” Raymond said. “The biggest difference I’ve seen so far is that you can stay in one station and work out on different muscle parts. We didn’t have that before with the other equipment, having to walk around the entire place to work out.”
Raymond’s three key exercise routines are the bench press, the deadlift, and the squat.
“Everyone I’ve talked to has nothing but positive things to say about this equipment. It gives us a lot of motivation to do more.”
During the summer, under the tutelage of Coach James, open workouts are available for any Rio Hondo ISD student, including non-athletes like band members, who will begin marching camp in a few weeks.
Rio Hondo Middle School students will also benefit, as they will enter the new year with access to the older exercise equipment during their athletic period. It’s a big game changer because weightlifting used to begin with a student’s freshman year.
“I know this year’s high school students stand to benefit from this new exercise equipment, but the impact will be felt years into the future when I’m no longer here, when the crop of current elementary school students grows into this and begin getting stronger at a younger age,” James said.
In 2022, the THSCEF announced a partnership with Ewing and the “Iron Sharpens Iron” weight room project.
Ewing approached THSCA in the fall of 2021, seeking to make a donation that would have a direct impact on student-athletes, coaches, school districts, and communities.
It was determined that donating a weight room to a school would have the most significant impact.
Oscar Riojas set up the flooring that can withstand the weight of the equipment, and Waterboy Graphics produced the building’s interior Bobcats artwork.
James said an official ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for August, once volleyball begins and football has its scrimmages. Cross-country runners will also be preparing for their season and have access to the equipment.
Ewing will be making a second visit to partake in the festivities, James said.
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