Students have resources to shape up

By GINGER MIKKELSEN

VIEW STAFF WRITER

A crowd of parents, students, teachers, administrators, politicians and supporters gathered at Woodbury Middle School on Nov. 2 to dedicate the school's new Project Fit America fitness equipment.

Parents provided the idea and the motivation, while Cardiovascular Consultants of Nevada provided funding, Clark County Parks and Recreation paid for the protective rubber ground surface, and the Nevada National Guard installed the equipment. The result is a new outdoor exercise program that aims to help students maintain their cardiovascular fitness.

Olympic gymnast Tasha Schwikert, one of many speakers at the dedication ceremony, encouraged students and members of the community to get up off the couch, abandon the television and use the new equipment.

"It's a big part of your life to be healthy," Schwikert said. "If you get involved in sports, you can open doors for yourself."

Students chosen to demonstrate the equipment said they were impressed with it.

"The new equipment gives us a better chance to get fit and at the same time we have fun," seventh-grader Eden McCallister said. "Sit-ups and all of that push-up stuff, there is nothing fun in it. When you come out here, it's like playing but you're still getting fit."

"It's good for the heart. It makes your muscles work," eighth-grader Richard Brown said.

Eighth-grader Lee Clinton agreed.

"It's pretty cool; you get to play and exercise," he said.

The finale to the dedication was a competition between Clark County Commissioner Dario Herrera and Schwikert.

"How many of you think it's fair that I get to challenge an Olympic gymnast?" Herrera asked. "Are you going to root for me?"

Schwikert's supporters responded with a resounding "No!"

Herrera didn't seem to mind the lack of support. He pulled off his suit- jacket, rolled up his sleeves and prepared to compete -- in a shiny pair of dress shoes. The gymnast and the former football player then used the new equipment to compete in pull-ups and push-ups.

The competition between Schwikert and Herrera ended in a draw, with the gymnast winning the pull-up contest 12-10 and Herrera taking the push-up duel, 26-25.

"I survived," Herrera said. "The fact that I could compete with a world-class athlete like that and not embarrass myself is pretty great."

"I didn't know what to expect because they said he was a former athlete," Schwikert said. "But I think we both did pretty good."

Schwikert was equally impressed with the new fitness project.

"I think this program is awesome," she said. "It gets kids aware of what exercise can do for your life."

Woodbury Principal Joe Murphy said he was excited about the support drawn from parents and the community.

"This is truly a community project. That is the reason for our celebration," Murphy said.

Woodbury parent Jenny Care, wife of District 7 state Sen. Terry Care, is the mother who started the project and kept it going.

"This is just a great testimony to what can be done when a community pulls together," she said, adding that the parents supporting the project were a big reason for its success."We just decided that this was a doable project for our kids. They needed this project, and we had the heart to do it."

Care said the funding from Cardiovascular Consultants of Nevada was perfect. She said although increased fitness in the community could result in a reduced client base for their future business, that's exactly what the representatives there would like.

"They want to be put out of work," Care said. "They see the long-term effects of poor health and poor lifestyle."

Care said one of the great things that happened as a result of the project was the school developed a relationship with Clark County Parks and Recreation.

During the ceremony, Glen Trowbridge, director of county parks and recreation, announced the school would soon be the sight of a new skateboard park.

Care said the assistance from the Nevada National Guard was also instrumental. When she asked Col. Jon Morrow if he could find engineers to install the new equipment he didn't hesitate.

Scott Farance, from the 777th National Guard Engineering Unit, was sent out with a team of guardsmen to do the work. Farance said his unit is made up of "citizen soldiers" who live and work in the community, so participating in a project like this came naturally.