FREDERICKTOWN — A new Fredericktown High School track and football facility will soon offer a new, more accessible look for fans and athletes.
Fredericktown joins several other local school districts that are improving their athletic facilities.
Centerburg schools will start construction on a new baseball field this spring. The Mount Vernon girls’ softball field underwent renovations over the past year.
Fredericktown School District Superintendent Gary Chapman said the district funded the $820,000 price through capital outlay.
Even though Chapman appreciates the facility his teams have been using, he is pleased that the need for an upgrade was recognized and remedied.
“Everybody loves running here because we run a pretty good track meet, but we’ve had a facility that has needed some help the last few years,” he said.
A new and improved track
Head track coach Bob Geiger said the facility has been in need of an upgrade, partially because it is a busy place.
“Every year, we put on eight or nine meets. We probably put on more meets than anyone else around,” he said.
“This is going to give us one of the nicest facilities around so that we can continue to run good track meets.”
On a more technical note, the coach explained an issue with the track’s size.
“In 1991, when they went from cinder to all-weather, they didn’t change from yards to meters. So in 2018, when they put this surface down, they realized that the track was too long. It was in yards and not meters,” the coach said, pointing at the soon-to-be-renovated track. “They had to shrink it, and the asphalt they added inside didn’t sit so well.”
Geiger said the 2018 track was more of a band-aid rather than a permanent solution.
“The surface they put down in 2018 wasn’t great. Now we are going to have a much nicer surface,” he said.
Irrigation issues addressed on football field
Another problem is removing water from the surface.
“We have had some irrigation issues, and of course, irrigation issues cause field issues,” Head Football Coach Scott Spitler said. “Our irrigation and sprinkler systems were not getting the job done, and that has been all taken care of.”
While the major renovation will take time, Spitler praised the work being done.
“Mother Nature is not always cooperative. We’re not out of the woods Mother Nature-wise, but since the end of our season last year, they’ve been at it,” Spitler said with a smile.
“The company that has been doing it has absolutely been on top of it. I have seen them out there in the frigid cold, so they are really motivated to get the job done and get it done right. We are excited.”
Fredericktown-based D&K Hathaway is the contractor. Triad Architects is the architect.
While football season is still some five months away, the Freddie track teams open their season on Tuesday. They will travel to Highland for their first “home” meet.
“We’re not going to host; we’re going to be working around the refurbishing. We have always had a really good connection with the Highland coaching staff and the Highland athletic director, so it made sense to move the first meet over there,” Geiger said.
Additional improvements on tap
A completion date has not been set in stone. Work is progressing, and according to Spitler, the contractor is about to sow the Kentucky bluegrass for the football field.
Chapman outlined additional work that is on the drawing board.
“Planning is also moving ahead for the future of the stadium fieldhouse. The district is exploring options for renovating the current facility or potentially replacing it to better serve our athletes, teams, and the broader community,” Chapman said.
“We’re excited to watch these improvements take shape and look forward to the day when the community can gather once again at an upgraded stadium to cheer on our Fredericktown Freddies.”