Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 18, 1993 TAG: 9304180082
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
NORTHSIDE TALKING NEW GYMNASIUM
Is there a new gym in the future of Northside High School?If there is a Group AA school more in need of a new gymnasium in Timesland than Northside, it must be really hard up.
The Virginia High School League directory lists the Northside capacity at 1,000. That's a reach because the Vikings' gym seems to be about the same size as the one at William Fleming, which lists a seating capacity of 750.
Getting the money from Roanoke County to build a new gym is another matter, but Northside principal Donna Henderson has devised a unique approach to show the benefits of just such a move.
"We're not planning it [a new gym], but there's a lot of community support," said Henderson. "They're planting a seed and talking to people in our area.
"First, the junior high needs a teaching facility [for physical education classes]. They're teaching phys ed classes in the auditorium over there.
"Second, we were at capacity for three varsity [boys'] games [against Alleghany, William Byrd and Salem]. Salem was a closeout; Byrd should have been, but we stretched it at the end.
"Third, the [Roanoke County] occupational school is closing as a facility with the children being mainstreamed into regular schools. That building is being remodeled, and the county recreation program will lose that facility. It puts a crimp into their activities."
Henderson says people interested in the North Roanoke County recreation program, the Vikings' booster club and the Parent-Teacher Association are the ones pushing for the new facility at her school.
"There's a lot of discussion and a lot of meetings have taken place. But there's been no action. It's just in the talking stages," Henderson said. "No one has given me any discouragement. It's educationally sound, but it's probably down the road. I just don't know how far down the road."
Bayes Wilson, superintendent of Roanoke County schools, said a group at a recent school board meeting proposed a new facility that was along the lines of a field house.
Wilson feels "optimistically it would be two or three years before we could even start" on a new gym at Northside. Presently, money from bond referendums and the state is earmarked to upgrade older elementary school buildings and add classrooms to all high schools.
"We don't have any money for a gym except to get a preliminary study on the costs. So we've hired architects and engineers to give us a site study on where we could locate a new gym at Northside when we have the money to build one," Wilson said.
The other question is how large a gym would be built and what else it might include. Henderson says there's some support for an indoor track facility and a place to practice indoor (recreation) soccer.
"Our dream would be a 2,000-seat facility. That's what the parents are talking about," Henderson said.
A word of caution is that a 2,000-seat facility would be fine by today's standards. Ten years from now, it might be outdated, just as are most gyms that were built a quarter of a century ago when it seemed as if 1,000 seats would be more than enough.
Henry County had a vision of the future. When Bassett and Magna Vista built gyms, they were designed to hold 3,000. They've been more than adequate for holding the crowds for regional, district and first-round state tournament games.
\ OVERLOOKED: When the many All-Timesland winter sports teams were chosen last week, Craig County's Chrissy Robertson was overlooked as a girls' "Sizzlin' Sophomore" to watch. The Rockets' guard averaged 16.4 points a game and was selected to the All-Pioneer District team.
\ FOOTBALL OPENINGS: Three Timesland schools are looking for head football coaches, with Auburn the latest to join the list that includes Shawsville and Lord Botetourt.
Kevan Harris, who headed the Auburn program for seven years, decided to give up coaching to be with his sons, ages 7 and 9, as they grow.
"I'll still help out as a volunteer as a scout or on game nights. I'm not quitting completely," he said. "Over the years, there are so many things I haven't done. Like put a new roof on my house. I still haven't gotten that done."
Keywords:
BASKETBALL