Churchill Gym Home to Athletic Club

By Liz Page

STAMFORD – For Bent Trimbell, having a place to work with high school athletes is a dream come true, as Stamford Village Trustees approved his plan to rent the Churchill building, which also houses the Stamford Library and Kiddie Corner Pre-school.

Trimbell has formed the not-for-profit Catskill Athletic Club. Prior to his approval as a not-for-profit, he and his like-minded friends used the gym last summer for and MVP Agility Training Camp.

"We've already been working out of the facility," said Trimbell, who formed the not-for-profit last year.

"We are working with the Little League teams and softball in the open gym.."

It's a starting point he hopes will grow into a much larger facility to provide agility and conditioning training. "I see kids coming from all over," he said.

He is expecting to receive grants and other funding to eventually have a 20,000 square foot building to work in. "That's my goal," he said.

At this point, the gym, which he is "leasing" for $850 per month through a licensing agreement with the village of Stamford, which owns the building, is providing a place to work. A clinic for 21 girls is set for Saturday and Little League clinics are also planned.

"I plan to do everything I can to provide everything to kids within a 30-mile radius," he said.

CAC is governed by a five-member board of directors, including Andrew VanZandt, a softball coach and longtime LittleLeague coach; Stacey Montebone, Catherine Snyder, Crystal Wright and Fred Vasta.

A four-week agility training camp last summer was extended an extra five weeks due to its popularity. More than 40 campers signed on for one of two sessions three nights per week at the gym over the summer at Churchill Gym. Future camps are coming.

"It's for everybody, not just athletes, and it puts emphasis on a healthy lifestyle. Not all of the campers were athletes, but they were still enjoying the camp."

It is about keeping the kids active. Trimbell's daughter got him started on his pledge to start an athletic training facility.

His daughters and son have benefitted from the training and Trimbell believes it will help other athletes in the region. He promises that the camps are just a small example of what is to come.

Trimbell loves softball and will enter his second year of coaching the Stamford/Jefferson girls modified softball team. His oldest daughter plays in a traveling softball league. "I am geared toward softball and baseball. Agility and strength is a major part of it."

Getting use of the Churchill Gym facility is helping fulfill a dream he has had for more than a decade.

As the owner of a local landscaping company, Lasting Impressions, he said landscaping isn't what he wants to do for the rest of his life.

For now, at least, Churchill Gym is home to the promise of bigger and better things to come as kids look forward to the arrival of warmer weather and the upcoming days on the baseball and softball diamond. He also has a list of willing coaches and friends to bring it all together.

In the meantime, the village is replacing the aging boiler in the building to make year around use more comfortable.