Until last March, Sharon High School student-athletes worked out in a space that was "more like a garage than a weight room," in Principal Jose Libano's opinion.

Tuesday, high school officials gave a high five to a Stoughton firm that helped create a stronger weight room.

Libano, Athletic Director Robert Sondheim and School Superintendent Timothy Farmer presented a plaque to Elite Health and Fitness Center Co-Owner Peter Rappoli and Training Director Cory McCue.

The plaque thanks the firm for donating equipment and time to help Sharon High's student-athletes.

Elite donated its time to prepare sport-specific training programs for Sharon's use, Libano said today.

"Now that we have a facility with all the equipment that you'd find in any other gym, I think our kids are using it more," he said.

"I think (student-athletes) are going to be that much more confident when they go out on the field and compete against the Mansfields of the world."

"Hopefully, it's going to lead to some new heights in our athletic program."

The new weight room opened last March 1, 2011, Sondheim said Tuesday. The $300,000 project was funded through fundraising, with the balance coming from the Sharon Capital Outlay funds, he said.

"It was in the planning stages for a good 10 years," Sondheim said.

Libano said today that Sharon High formerly had "a very small weight room in the back."

"Kudos to the kids for being committed enough to even use that space," he said.

"We were in desperate need of something that could benefit the greater student body and all of our sports programs."