By Mike McClure
If you have attended a game at the Delmar Middle/High School in the past year, you’ve probably noticed some changes to the schools’ athletic facilities. From a new pole building that houses wrestling practices to a new soccer press box to a new backstop at the varsity baseball field, the Delmar School District has invested in its athletic complex, and the safety of its athletes and spectators.
“Our fields are beautiful. I’d put our fields against anyone,” said Athletic Director Chad Jones, who was joined by Assistant Athletic Director Odell Jones. Both are thankful for the support from the administration and school board for the upgrades.
Delmar Assistant Athletic Director Odell Jones, left, and Athletic Director Chad Jones are shown in front of the district’s new soccer press box.
Chad Jones calls the pole shed a game changer because it opens up the schools’ gyms which is the site of practices for both schools in the winter. The school has a gym and a smaller gym. In the past, the smaller gym was the site of wrestling practices, then a middle school basketball team came in for practice right after wrestling practice. Now, the wrestling team practices in the pole building and there is room for younger wrestlers to come in and practice, giving the middle school and high school wrestling teams a feeder program.
“It’s nice to have another athletic facility to go to,” Chad Jones said, adding the school was cramped for space before the building was added.
The new backstop at the baseball field replaces a backstop that was at least 50 years old. Protective netting has been installed at the fields so that fans walking by are not hit by baseballs or soccer balls. There are plans to extend the netting to protect the pathway to the field hockey field.
A soccer press box has been installed with plans to put one at every field, including the baseball and softball fields. Every field also now has its own flag pole so those in attendance at games don’t have to look to another field for a flag during the playing of the National Anthem.
Chad and Odell credited school maintenance workers Tyler Oliphant and Joel Yates for helping maintain everything outside. Also, former players also came back to help at cost for projects such as the press boxes.
Other work that has been done at the school’s athletic facilities includes: hockey press box renovation, bleacher concrete pads, handicap walkway, and stadium and gym sound system.
Future projects are: renovating baseball dugouts, painting ticket booth, big gym mat installation, and stadium lighting upgrade.
