A New Iron Age: Charlotte Catholic Steps into the Next Generation of Weightlifting

After two years of planning and fundraising, Charlotte Catholic has finished its weight room renovation project. Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Mike Hazel said, “It is arguably one of the best-equipped high school weight rooms in the state.”

Students have used the old weight room equipment since 2002. Coach Hazel long expressed the need for new equipment. He said, “The equipment was outdated, worn down, and increasingly unsafe. Many pieces were falling apart and no longer fit the space or our programming needs.”

Through fundraising and the annual athletic booster raffle, the school was able to raise enough money to start this project. The renovation began during the first week of school and it finished midway through the second week. This renovation included eight new multipurpose half racks, along with new bumper plates and dumbbells. Each rack also features fully adjustable jammer arms, which greatly expand the variety of exercises users can safely perform.

For Coach Hazel, safety is the top priority, and he trusts that “the new equipment will provide a safer training environment, a modernized space, and allow for more advanced, up-to-date programming to support student athletes’ development.”

Weight Room (Credit: Charlotte Catholic High School)

Athleticism and determination have defined Charlotte Catholic Athletics, leading to multiple state championships throughout the past decade. This success comes from building the fundamental base for athleticism and fitness in the weight room months before a season starts.

Sam Kaupp is a junior athlete who has been a part of the Strength and Conditioning program for over two years. Sam said, “The weight room has significantly helped me with my strength training.” He believes that when his strength improves in the weight room, his performance on the football field equally progresses. He has already used the new equipment. He believes, “The new weights and equipment will allow for more specific exercises per position and allow for better results.”

Charlotte Catholic won the Strength of America Award from the National Strength and Conditioning Association for the 2021-2024 and 2024-2027 time frames. This award acknowledges schools with the highest standard of safety and success for athletes. Upon receiving this honor, Catholic Catholic is considered as one of the best high school strength and conditioning programs in the nation and this new renovation will only advance their success. 

Coach Hazel is now entering his 10th year as the Director Strength and Condition for Charlotte Catholic. He has turned this program into one of the nation’s best and is continuing to develop these high school athletes through his and his team’s hard work. This renovation is the next step in the program’s development.