This year, the Town of West Hartford recently approved around 11 housing projects. This means more people in West Hartford, and potentially new students in schools. More students can mean more school resources being used. One of those resources being athletic facilities like the weight room which are frequently used by students like Luc Abbatemarco, a 4 year football player and wrestler at Hall, who said the weight room is “Definitely way overcrowded.” He also added that there has been “some displeasure” from other students who use the weight room. When asked if the weight room could handle a new influx of students, he said, “I don’t think so.”
Data from the Athletic Department showed that during the 2024-25 school year, the number of sport sign-ups between all three seasons was 1645. Popular sports like football in the fall with around 80-100 students, and spring sports like track that have seen closer to 200-300. These large teams share the 2000 sq-foot weight room that has a maximum capacity of around 50 people. The West Hartford Public School athletic director, Jason Siegal said he would “love more space, but I’m not unhappy with the space they have.” He also said that “there are times when there are probably too many kids but I don't think that's too often. Coaches are good about utilizing the space.” Coaches like Frank Robinson, a long time Hall alum and former football coach, said that he is “comfortable” with what is being offered for students, and said that it is better equipped than when he first started coaching. Jason Siegal also said that “Every now and then coaches come and ask for schedule tweaks.” He said this happens more in the winter when teams normally don’t go outside and are more limited to the indoor space, causing more demand.
When asked about the new housing projects and their plan on the possible increase in student athlete population, Siegal said “We have always made it work,” we will continue to make it work.” Luc said that he knows it is hard to make changes to the weight room due to location and limits around it, but would like there to be a “sizable difference.” Additionally, Elizabeth Hewitt, director of planning and finance, told Weha.com “We’re not expecting a significant impact,” when talking about the impacts of the housing projects on school enrollment. Right now, there are no current plans to expand the weight room, but staff plan to monitor the situation as needed.
