New track dedicated at G-A
By Bruce Rolfe
It was hard to determine who was the happiest to see Galesburg-Augusta High School have the opportunity to host a home track meet for the first time since 2002 at a track dedication ceremony that was followed by the school’s first home track meet in 23 years against Martin April 10.
Current and former members of the school board and Superintendent Wendy Somers, who worked hard to put the ballot proposal together and get it passed, all had smiles on their faces during a short dedication before the meet.
Administrators, community members and supporters of the bond who were in the stands to get a glimpse of the new facility and support the Rams were very happy.
Student-athletes who faced bus trips to every track meet and many practices previously, were anxious to perform in front of a home crowd at G-A. And their coaches were happy to have a first class facility to practice and perform at.
With current and former school board members, administrators, track team student-athletes, coaches, teachers, and the G-A band on the field, Somers offered some brief comments about the bond process and the new track during the dedication ceremony. G-A track coach Paul Schab told the audience how thankful he was to have an impressive facility for G-A student-athletes to practice and perform at after many years of facing road track meets and practices at other facilities.
“This is a great occasion for us and I personally, are deeply moved for this. I have been coaching for Galesburg-Augusta for 10 years, and luckily, we have a track now. So I really, really appreciate it,” said Schab.
The brief dedication concluded with the G-A band performing the school fight song.
“This is a great experience. It’s real eye appealing. I can’t imagine the excitement these kids have to participate and compete on this type of facility. It’s top notch. I’m real happy for the community and extremely happy for the kids,” said former G-A School Board President Mike McCubbin.
G-A juniors Carter Stevens and Jaidyn Klimp said after competing on the road in track meets their first two years in high school, they were very excited to compete at G-A in front of home supporters as well as have a facility at G-A to practice at.
“It’s invigorating. It’s so much fun. I had a lot of fun here today. It feels nice to know that we’re supported as G-A athletes, not having the proper equipment for the past couple of years,” said junior Carter Stevens, who helped the 4x800-meter relay team to a first place finish, won the 3200-meter run and placed third in the 1600-meter run at the April 10 meet.
“It’s really amazing because I know most of those people up there (in the stands). When I look up there I recognize every single face and it’s great to hear them cheer,” adds Klimp.
“Personally, for me, I fought hard to have the millage passed. Seeing my athletes and everything they went through, back and forth, having to go to different schools, this is just tremendous. I can’t even describe it,” adds Schab.
G-A graduates who returned for the track dedication and first home track meet at G-A since 2002, were also happy to see G-A athletes enjoy a home track meet again.
“It’s great that they got this facility to run on that we didn’t have to train on. They have more of an opportunity to train under better (circumstances) then what we had,” said Hayley Hall, a 2022 G-A High School graduate.
The track at the old high school deteriorated to the point it could no longer be used.
Bond proposals in 2000, 2005, 2006, 2015, and May, 2021 all included the construction of a new athletic complex with an all-weather track, however the proposals were defeated in each election.
However in November, 2021, a new $5.88 million athletic facility that included a new all- weather track and field events area that was part of a $16.5 million bond proposal, was passed by G-A voters.
It was hard to determine who was the happiest to see Galesburg-Augusta High School have the opportunity to host a home track meet for the first time since 2002 at a track dedication ceremony that was followed by the school’s first home track meet in 23 years against Martin April 10.
Current and former members of the school board and Superintendent Wendy Somers, who worked hard to put the ballot proposal together and get it passed, all had smiles on their faces during a short dedication before the meet.
Administrators, community members and supporters of the bond who were in the stands to get a glimpse of the new facility and support the Rams were very happy.
Student-athletes who faced bus trips to every track meet and many practices previously, were anxious to perform in front of a home crowd at G-A. And their coaches were happy to have a first class facility to practice and perform at.
With current and former school board members, administrators, track team student-athletes, coaches, teachers, and the G-A band on the field, Somers offered some brief comments about the bond process and the new track during the dedication ceremony. G-A track coach Paul Schab told the audience how thankful he was to have an impressive facility for G-A student-athletes to practice and perform at after many years of facing road track meets and practices at other facilities.
“This is a great occasion for us and I personally, are deeply moved for this. I have been coaching for Galesburg-Augusta for 10 years, and luckily, we have a track now. So I really, really appreciate it,” said Schab.
The brief dedication concluded with the G-A band performing the school fight song.
“This is a great experience. It’s real eye appealing. I can’t imagine the excitement these kids have to participate and compete on this type of facility. It’s top notch. I’m real happy for the community and extremely happy for the kids,” said former G-A School Board President Mike McCubbin.
G-A juniors Carter Stevens and Jaidyn Klimp said after competing on the road in track meets their first two years in high school, they were very excited to compete at G-A in front of home supporters as well as have a facility at G-A to practice at.
“It’s invigorating. It’s so much fun. I had a lot of fun here today. It feels nice to know that we’re supported as G-A athletes, not having the proper equipment for the past couple of years,” said junior Carter Stevens, who helped the 4x800-meter relay team to a first place finish, won the 3200-meter run and placed third in the 1600-meter run at the April 10 meet.
“It’s really amazing because I know most of those people up there (in the stands). When I look up there I recognize every single face and it’s great to hear them cheer,” adds Klimp.
“Personally, for me, I fought hard to have the millage passed. Seeing my athletes and everything they went through, back and forth, having to go to different schools, this is just tremendous. I can’t even describe it,” adds Schab.
G-A graduates who returned for the track dedication and first home track meet at G-A since 2002, were also happy to see G-A athletes enjoy a home track meet again.
“It’s great that they got this facility to run on that we didn’t have to train on. They have more of an opportunity to train under better (circumstances) then what we had,” said Hayley Hall, a 2022 G-A High School graduate.
The track at the old high school deteriorated to the point it could no longer be used.
Bond proposals in 2000, 2005, 2006, 2015, and May, 2021 all included the construction of a new athletic complex with an all-weather track, however the proposals were defeated in each election.
However in November, 2021, a new $5.88 million athletic facility that included a new all- weather track and field events area that was part of a $16.5 million bond proposal, was passed by G-A voters.
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