Hinsdale South athletes will walk into a transformed weight room when fall workouts resume this month, part of a summer overhaul the school says removed old cage structures and opened the floor plan for a "modern, high-energy space."

The renovation, announced in the school's July 30 newsletter, features fresh paint and a redesigned layout. Athletics Director Art Ostrow appeared in an accompanying video segment covering sports programs and the registration process ahead of the Wednesday, Aug. 12 first day of school.

The new facility arrives at a pivotal moment for Hornet football. Head coach Jarrod Amolsch, a 25-year Hinsdale South coaching veteran who moved from the defensive staff to the top job, has guided a program that finished 4-5 in four consecutive seasons through 2024 without reaching the playoffs. The Hornets' last postseason appearance was in 2018.

A senior class that went 7-2 as sophomores in 2024 returns as the most experienced group Hinsdale South has fielded in years, according to a Shaw Local preview of the West Suburban Conference. Their 2025 junior-year record has not been confirmed, but the landscape has shifted in the Hornets' favor regardless. The IHSA expanded the football playoff field from 256 to 384 qualifiers for 2026, meaning teams with as few as two wins can now reach the postseason — a significant structural change for programs stuck on the bubble.

The Hornets open the season Friday, Aug. 21.

Before that, the Hinsdale South Parent Athletic Club hosts its Fall Sports Kickoff on Friday, Aug. 14, starting at 5 p.m. The nonprofit booster group is offering season memberships, food, a raffle, and a chance to connect with the Hornet community. All student-athletes must submit a current IHSA Medical Eligibility Form to the Athletic Office before their first day of participation.

Fall registration is open for the 2026-27 school year. Families can email the Athletic Department at [email protected] or drop forms at the front desk.