Southeast athletics department installs high-tech workout equipment for student-athletes

The sound of weights being lifted and dropping to the floor, medicine balls being thrown against the wall, the thud of people's feet running on treadmills -- these are all sounds people expect to hear at a Student Recreation Center on campus.

There are many types of workout equipment available with several different machines, which can take up a lot of space. What if there was one machine that offered every type of weight-lifting training? Well there is. It is called the Elite Form, and it is a state-of-the-art workout machine.

The machines arrived on Feb. 12 for Southeast student-athletes. The Elite Form, located only at the Student Recreation Center-South, has a tablet-like device that allows the person to choose from any weight lifting technique. It also has a 3D camera that records the number of repetitions and the velocity of each repetition the athlete does. The camera also will take a video of the athlete so he or she can review and see if their form is correct.

Members of the Southeast football team lift weights in the Student Recreation Center-South on Monday. Photo by Drew Yount

Southeast strength and conditioning coach Ryan Johnson likes what he sees from the Elite Form system.

"This machine measures in bar speed and power output. The benefit of that is it adds to our competitive environment," Johnson said. "You can see as each set goes on if the student is getting stronger or are they starting to tail off a little bit. That is the biggest advantage we see from it."

Southeast is one of a few schools that have this new workout system and, according to Johnson, is the only school in the Ohio Valley Conference to have it.

Senior Brian Grote throws javelin for the Southeast track and field team and thinks the new system is "huge" for Southeast athletes.

"I think it will be really good for all of the athletes to use and see how they are improving their lift speeds and power outputs," Grote said. "I think it will make all the athletes better and improve their skills.

"It will also help with team workouts because on the screen the coach can assign how many reps and at what weight the athletes need to be doing that day. It will help in not having to find out what we as athletes are supposed to be working on that day. Instead the coaches can already have it on there and ready to go, so we can get started as soon as we get there."

Both Grote and Johnson believe these new machines will also help Southeast in recruiting.

"This is a difference maker. It is one thing to bring recruits in here and talk about the program and talk [about] the history of Southeast. When they get something like this they can actually see it helps," Johnson said. "This system is the best of the best. It will give Southeast that 'wow' factor and will be something when a recruit leaves, they will be talking about it."

According to a spokesman with the athletic department, the Elite Form workout equipment cost roughly $17,000 in total. It was part of a one-time fund that enabled departments to request equipment purchases from the university to enhance the student experience.

"It's pretty expensive, but it's worth it," Johnson said.