By CAMERON BARNES
Ranger Reporter
The holiday season already is here. Many people are preparing for Thanksgiving, and stores already are playing Christmas music.
Along with any holiday, consuming more food than normal is quite common. Instead of gaining the holiday pudge, however, students could gain some holiday muscle at Carter Fitness Center.
The gym is located on Amarillo College’s Washington Street Campus. It contains two basketball courts, volleyball courts, a weight room,and a cardio machine room.
“I like to stay in shape, and I love working out here because it’s a convenient location and they have free weights,” said Irving Murillo, a business administration major.
Carter Fitness offers an opportune way to stay fit and still get access to quality equipment. Students only pay $30 a semester, and all AC faculty, staff, retirees, part-time academic faculty, board members and students enrolled in fitness classes get free gym memberships.
AC students aren’t the only ones who can enjoy the gym’s amenities. Members of the community also can join for $120 every six months.
Carter Fitness Center Supervisor Eric Novak has worked at the center for three years and graduated this summer from West Texas A&M University with his bachelor’s degree in sports and exercise science. Novak said Carter employees they are trying to make joining the gym easier by including gym membership with tuition.
“We have nice, friendly people here with an open environment,” Novak said, “Also, the center is smaller and not as crowded as other gyms.”
Most of the equipment in the gym is of good quality and up to date, and flat-screen television sets are mounted in the weight room and cardio room.
“We have everything every other gym would have as far as weights and cardio equipment; it’s just on a smaller scale, “ Novak said.
Novak encourages students to get involved with the many intramural sports programs at the center. “It’s a great way for people to actually do something other than schoolwork while on campus,” he said.
The center offers sports such as basketball, football, softball, volleyball and dodgeball.
Martin Vela, a criminal justice major, visits Carter Fitness often and plays intramural football. “The intramural sports they have are pretty cool,” Vela said. “I played flag football this semester, and it was pretty fun. I met new people and made some new friends.
Vela chooses Carter Fitness over other gyms because the equipment is what most gyms have and the price is affordable.
“It’s just right there when you are on campus instead of having to go to Gold’s Gym, Amarillo Town Club or Planet Fitness,” he said. “It saves you gas.”
During fall and spring, Carter Fitness is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m Sunday. During holidays, hours may change. For more information, call Carter Fitness Center at 806-345-5515.
Leave a Reply