John Marquez poses in the weight room at Myrtle Point High School in February. The physical education teacher and coach is looking to improve the room for both athletes and students at the school. - World Photo by Lou Sennick

If a person were to wander into Myrtle Point High School’s weight room a few months ago, the thought of using the rugged, old and broken equipment may have led them right back out the door.

There were no free-benches, few dumbbells, and other equipment was bent or broken. The room was dull and uninviting, with nearly no color nor a single poster on the walls.

With a bitter common attitude among the students, two of the high school staff members who regularly spent time in the weight room and could see the importance of it began putting effort into turning the tattered room around.  

Myrtle Point High School physical education and health teachers John Marquez and Kari Sanders are leading the way on the renovation.

“The equipment is there, but it’s unsafe,” said Marquez, who is in his first year at Myrtle Point. “It just wasn’t a conducive environment for lifting.”

The disorganization — along with the concrete showing through the rubber floor —were enough to inspire Marquez and Sanders to change the room for good.

Their first major step toward that change came with help from the Athletic/Physical Education department at Southwestern Oregon Community College. Marquez approached the college about its extra equipment. Shortly thereafter, nearly $1,500 in used equipment was donated — a huge step up from the beaten and broken equipment that Myrtle Point had.

The Division Director Blake Bowers, track coach Dan Neal, Dean of Students Patty Scott and athletic director John Speasl have been the main Southwestern officials in helping Myrtle Point obtain equipment, Marquez said.

The weights were considered surplus by the college.

“Well, when we redid the rec-center last year, most of our old equipment became obsolete,” Speasl explained.

Southwestern also donated several weight machines to Sunset Middle School, though Sunset was not interested in obtaining the free-weights, said Speasl.  

“The other three really deserve the credit on this one,” said Speasl. “All I did was open a few doors.”

At this point, the weights have been the biggest addition to the weight room. Sanders and Marquez also have been working on painting the walls, though neither has an extraordinary amount of free time to do so.  

“Right now, our number-one goal is putting down new flooring,” said Marquez.

But new flooring, which runs from $1,000 to $3,000, is difficult to purchase with limited financial resources. Thus, the fundraising began.

“We’ve really got three forms of fundraising at this point,” said Marquez. “First, we are selling vinyl banners for advertisement at school events. Then, we also will be collecting items for our auction that will hopefully take place in early May. And lastly, we are accepting any form of financial donation that anyone is willing to help with.”

Marquez also has been working with local police Officer Jason MacNeil on getting a grant from a business in the Portland area.

 Marquez also has drafted a letter that he hopes to refine and send out to businesses explaining the condition of the weight room, as well as the cause for which they are generating these funds.

Sanders and Marquez also would like to purchase fitness equipment, such as treadmills and circular bicycles, for the weight room.

“We really want to push fitness and staying healthy,” Marquez said. “Hopefully, some lifelong fitness habits will develop with the kids. As long as we paint the right picture, then the kids will want to come lift.”

Marquez, who is the head coach of the softball team as well as an assistant football coach, stated that if he could send out one main message to the public, it would be that the new weight room is not simply for athletics. It will not be just for the football players, or just for the wrestlers, but for everyone who wants to use it.

“I’d like to see it completed by the end of this summer,” said Marquez. “That’s my goal.”

For further information or questions about the new weight room project, those interested can call Marquez at 260-1097 or reach him by e-mail at JMarquez@mpsd.k12.or.us.