IN LOVING MEMORY The Armando Simosa ’08 Athletics Performance Complex is
a combination of a newly renovated Strength & Conditioning
Room and a brand new Fitness Center dedicated in honor of the
former student, who tragically died in a 2009 car accident shortly
after completing his PG year at the Academy. The new complex is made possible by a leadership gift from one of the Academy’s
well-known trustees and the student’s father, for whom he was named, Armando Simosa P’08.
When asked how it felt to see the complex named after his son,
Simosa stated that he feels very proud and that it was as if his son had asked him to fix the facilities. “Honestly, he said something about it to me one time and when the opportunity arose, I
remembered that and raised my hand,” said Simosa. “Fitness was one of the most important interests of my son, Armando. He
always went to train in Cheshire Academy’s facilities, as he also ARMANDO SIMOSA ’08
did in our house in Venezuela.”
“The leadership gift from Mr. Simosa is an amazing testament to his generosity and desire to make Cheshire
Academy an even better place,” said Director of Development and Alumni Relations Barb Davis P’17 P’18 P’20. “The entire Cheshire Academy community is very grateful and extremely appreciative.”
THE IDEA The idea to renovate the previous fitness area was first mentioned by another Trustee, Mike Mauro P’11. After looking at the space and speaking with Head of School John D. Nozell, Mauro noted, “We really wanted to
create a space for all students whether they were an athlete or just a student looking to exercise.” Mauro went on to recommend that the new Fitness Center, a space which previously was a locker room and storage, be
combined into a more open room with glass on all sides to emphasize that it was a welcoming place for all of the Cheshire Academy community. What was once the main exercise area for the entire school, would now
be a Strength and Conditioning Center for varsity athletes who need more advanced equipment for training purposes as well as direction from coaches and athletic trainers.
Having a dedicated fitness space for all students, and even the Cheshire Academy community as a whole, is
something that’s been long overdue. The previous fitness facilities were original to the time that the building
was built in the sixties, as was much of the equipment. Creating two dedicated spaces for specific students and athletes is also part of a larger strategy to set the Academy apart from its competition.
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