April 15, 2008

New Bremen Athletics Complex

Scott Kuenning, a member of the 2006 Vision Committee that studied the need for an addition to the New Bremen High School athletics complex, presented the club with an overview of recent history of the athletics program and the identified need for some new facilities.

He recapped the development of the current facilities from 1997 when the Boosters set out to provide new facilities which included the new football field and track and the new baseball and softball fields located at the high school on the East end of town. At the time $2M were raised and the football field and track facilities were completed in 2000.  By 2001, the new ball diamonds were finished in time for the HS summer programs and the girls HS softball regional tournament.

Scott shared how the athletes have responded to the public's generosity by way of their achievements in sports.  NB has had its first state champion in the 300 Meter competition when Troy Lammers won this event.  Also, since 2000, the football team reached its first playoff game since 1988.  There have been 3 MAC championships and the first girl's regional championship in softball and in 2006 the boys won the district championship in basketball for the first time since 1977.  The athletes have also posted other track and field awards with 23 medals earned between 1978 and 2000 and an additional 40 earned since 2000. 

The new facility would relieve utilization woes for conditioning and practices and would provide a new weight room that is about 3x the size of the existing facility in the high school building.  At a $0.5M price tag, the building could be completed by the start of the new school year in August providing the remaining 30% of the money can be raised in the near future.  The building would be located between the practice football field and softball fields and would include a multipurpose area, a 3 lane sprint track and weight room.  It would be 60 x 150 feet with a possible 25 foot storage bay added at one end.  Maintenance and operation of the building would be assumed by the school and parts of it would be available for use by the public as scheduling would allow.

Hosting Rotarian:  John Wierwille.