Central High School unveils $3M athletic complex upgrade

November 19, 2025 / Athletic Administration • Facilities

Central High School in Baton Rouge is taking pride in its newly renovated weight room, the centerpiece of a $3 million upgrade to its athletic complex, which also includes football locker rooms and a gaming space. The nine-month project began in January 2024 and transformed the existing 6,600-square-foot space into a state-of-the-art training hub for the school’s more than 600 student-athletes.

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Before the renovation, Central athletes trained in a bare-bones space with aging racks and mismatched dumbbells. Today, the Wildcats benefit from a facility designed for efficiency and safety, capable of accommodating up to 400 athletes per day. Outfitted entirely by Hammer Strength/Life Fitness, the weight room now features 24 racks, power blocks, kettlebells, bumper plates, functional trainer attachments, medicine balls, plyometric boxes, and 25 yards of Mondo turf down the center for movement-based training.

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Technology upgrades further streamline workouts. Ten wall-mounted TVs and a large projection screen display workouts digitally, eliminating paper charts and allowing coaches to manage large groups effectively. The addition of Perch velocity-based training units provides advanced data for select athletes, enhancing performance tracking.

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For Director of Athletic Performance Thomas DiStasio, the space is both a dream and a responsibility. “We wanted to maximize efficiency and create a layout where athletes could complete everything at their station,” he said. “Now, we can train 100 kids at once without chaos.”

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Since its opening, athletes and coaches have praised the facility, crediting it as a catalyst for the school’s recent athletic success — including a state football championship and a basketball state finals appearance.