The Zappitelli family has long had a footprint in the Lake Catholic athletic department through family members who have played or coached at the school. The family has taken another step in its legacy at Lake via the newly christened Zappitelli Family Athletic Performance Center, which was officially dedicated in a ceremony Oct. 4 at the school. The completion of the project came in recent weeks when a $1 million locker room renovation was finished. It’s the school’s largest facility upgrade in more than a decade. Before the locker rooms were renovated, the weight room was revamped, upgraded and expanded. “Our student-athletes deserve facilities that reflect their hard work and achievements,” said Lake Catholic president John Morabeto. “This renovation is a testament to the generosity of our benefactors and the collective dedication of our community to our mission. We are thrilled to provide our students with an environment that supports their growth and success.” The Zappitelli Family proudly presents the $1 million locker room renovation it sponsored at Lake Catholic at a special ceremony on Oct. 4. (Courtesy of Lake Catholic) Dozens of members of the Zappitelli family were on hand Oct. 4 for the official dedication. Josephine (Zappitelli) Burch said her family is proud to continue to support Lake Catholic. “We stand before you today, with almost three generations of Cougars, with immense gratitude and pride,” she said. “I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Lake Catholic High School for the incredible honor of naming the new Zappitelli Family Athletic Performance Center. This facility is not just a locker and weight room; it represents a space where our students will grow, compete, and build lifelong memories, like we did.” Along with the naming of the training center, the Zappitelli family also sponsors The Alfred and Antonietta Zappitelli Scholarship, which gives six student-athletes a scholarship each year. “We do all of this today in memory of them,” Zappitelli said. “We are deeply appreciative of the values that Lake Catholic instills in its students—values of teamwork, perseverance, sportsmanship and being Christ-like. These principles are the foundation of not just athletics, but of life itself.” The $1 million locker room project consisted of 100 new lockers in the boys locker room, as well as 38 in the girls locker room, according to a Lake Catholic spokesperson. A portion of the old lockers were moved. “It’s a beautiful locker room — state of the art,” said football coach Marty Gibbons. “Our kids really appreciate it.” The Zappitelli family also sponsored the renovation and upgrade of the softball facility a number of years ago. “I played football with Bobby Zappitelli back in 2011,” Gibbons said. “Their family has been so tremendous to our school. These facilities help validate our school. The Zappitelli family are high quality people who are deeply invested in our school.”