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Local Sports

Williamstown Yellowjackets take ‘W.I.N.’ning to new level

By JIM BUTTA, jbutta@newsandsentinel.com
POSTED: September 17, 2009

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WILLIAMSTOWN - Just when you thought all of the construction around Williamstown High School was over athletics director Jeff Givens and members of the Williamstown Improvement Network (W.I.N.) have announced plans to make some major changes to the school's football field and the adjoining Jack Jones Track and Field Facility.

"It's something I wrote 2 1/2 years ago," Givens explained. "It started because our restrooms at the football field are embarrassing and the concessions stands were in deep need of being replaced."

From those humble beginnings grew an idea which, when completed, will cost nearly $2 million and will eventually turn the team's practice field into its game field with an eight-lane, all-weather track surrounding it as well as new concession stands and restrooms.

"We've broken it up into three phases," continued Givens, a former-athlete at the school. "The first phase revolves around enlarging our present locker room/weight room facility.

"The additions will give us a new state-of-the-art concession stand, new locker rooms, restrooms and dressing rooms for our visiting teams."

To kick off the project Givens and his W.I.N. committee reached out to the family, friends and school alumni, selling T-shirts with the group's logo for $20. If all 500 shirts are sold the project would already be $10,000 closer to the start of Phase One.

Once Phase One is completed, the committee will set its sights on Phase Two.

This might be the most difficult one of the three to meet, however. It includes the rotating of the present home bleachers-along with the pressbox-so that they face the present practice field.

Also included in this package would be the addition of several new bleachers to ensure that the Yellowjackets' facility always meets the SSAC's standards for hosting playoff games as well as adding two more lanes to the all-weather track that surrounds the field.

Should all of that happen, then Phase Three-the "icing on the cake" according to Givens-would take place immediately afterwards. That phase involves replacing the natural grass surface with the 'popular' Field Turf seen at Parkersburg's Stadium Field and at Mountaineer Field in Morgantown.

The two questions facing the Yellowjackets administrator, however, revolve around a time line and the price.

"We really don't have a price tag on any of it," said Givens. "We're not going to be able to get it all done at once and because of that our time line is as fast as the money comes in."

Raising money for projects around the school has not been a major problem in the past as witnessed by the town's new swimming pool as well as the new soccer field.

"The people in this community love their school," added the athletics director. "They will do just about anything for our kids and our school. We know we are asking a lot, but we believe the investment we make now will pay dividends for years to come."

Ground breaking for the expected five-year program could begin as early as this summer if the initial $100,000 is raised.

 
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