Tuesday, October 05, 1999
Donations, civic pride built Wayne High's new stadium
BY SUE KIESEWETTER
Enquirer Contributor
Finishing touches are made to Wayne High School's $500,000 football stadium and track.
(Michael Snyder photos)
| ZOOM |
|
WAYNESVILLE — A new stadium dedicated exclusively to football will be inaugurated Oct. 18, when the Wayne High School Spartans take on the Southeastern Trojans.
The project has been talked about since before Wayne High School Athletic Director Tim Gabbard joined the staff in 1978. There also is a state-of-the-art, eight-lane, all-weather track that will allow this northeastern Warren County school to host its first track meet next spring.
“It was desperately needed,” said Mr. Gabbard, who was head football coach in the 1980s and is now an assistant coach. “A lot of people worked very hard to make this happen.”
Construction on the $500,000 project — built with private donations and loans — began more than a year ago, about the time the new Wayne High School opened. The new stadium is behind the high school and adjacent to the old football stadium, now to be used as a soccer/baseball stadium.
“This dream originated in the 1970s, when we nearly shut down football,” said Michael Couch, president of the facilities committee and a district graduate. “We want this to be a showcase when it opens. We want the people to know their hard-earned dollars went to something important.”
The nonprofit Waynesville Athletic Facilities Committee Inc., in cooperation with the Waynesville Athletic Boosters, led the project. Donations of time, money, materials and labor, along with loans, came from the business community and individuals. The schools, village of Waynesville and Wayne Township also provided assistance.
The stadium, to be known as the American Legion Stadium, will have seating for 1,400 on the home side and 400-500 on the visitors' side, said Larry Nelson, a 1971 Wayne High graduate who is involved with both the boosters and facilities committee. It has a self-draining field with its own irrigation system.
“That's the beauty of this. ... We could have a downpour and still be ready to play,” Mr. Nelson said.
The athletic expansion won't end with the stadium, Mr. Nelson said. Phase two will have a weight or wrestling room, additional lockers, concessions and coach meeting rooms.
“Our athletic fields take a lot of wear and tear,” said Wayne Superintendent Tom Isaacs. “This will go a long way to increasing safety. For a small school, this is a wonderful athletic complex.”
Signs to drivers: Don't block
Rapist got into house easily
Giovanni delights store full of fans
Flood-prone homes may be bought in East End
Growth like a 'runaway train'
Meetings explain plan for riverfront
P&G gift to expand health meet for women
Some girls start puberty at 6 or 7, study finds
Grandparents take a chance on heartbreak
Baby stingrays born Sunday
British predator gets maximum
Donations, civic pride built Wayne High's new stadium
Fighting ovarian cancer
Minister gave, now will receive
Mom gets 17 years for beating 7-year-old daughter to death
Pupils to create original music
Warren wins utilities dispute
County looks before it leaps into new system
Eager duffers ignore drizzle
Kids, families practice escapes
Mason reopens downtown debate
Prosecutor: Fingerprints point toward the killer
School developer was convicted
Sentinels recommend improvements for officers
Wife, clerk can be sued over warrant
Woman's death murder, not suicide, court told
GET TO IT
TRISTATE DIGEST
