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Lift for Wrestling Mats Installed

by Kent Kechter

A new lift was installed at St. Francis High School on Friday, November 9th.  The lift was necessary due to the fact the weight room was moved from its previous location--upstairs in the new addition--to the lower level where the wrestling room previously existed.  The wrestling practice area will now be upstairs and the weight room on the lower level.  This change was made due to several factors.  The concrete in the floor of the upper level was showing some damage due to the weights.  Another factor was that the wrestling area will now be warmer due to the heat rising to the upper level.  This will possibly help reduce the heating necessary in this area.

The lift was installed by NGE Inc. from Roland, Iowa at a cost of $15,846.35.  Sam Miller, local contractor, completed the electrical connections necessary for the equipment.  

The lift will allow the wrestling mats to be moved from the wrestling practice area down to the lower level so that the mats can then be moved to the gym for wrestling matches and back to the upper level again for practice.  The lift is suspended on  a large I-beam from the steel girders forming the building framework.  The lift's capacity is 2000 pounds.

Wrestling season is nearly here so the installation of the lift was completed just in time.  The first wrestling competition will be December 1st when the Indians will be competing in the St. Francis Gabel-Jenkins Invitational.