FRHS set to unveil facility

FORT RECOVERY — They’ve been anxious, yet patient at the same time.

And on Sunday, the Fort Recovery High School administration will get to share the excitement about its new athletic facility with the community.

The Jerome and Maurice Grieshop Athletic Training Facility will be unveiled at a dedication ceremony and open house from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Fort Recovery High School.

In addition to opening its doors to a new building, residents will be able to see upgrades the school has made during it’s $3.4 million renovation project that has taken more than two years.

“We had deadlines and goals of when it would be open,” FRHS athletics director Kurt Rammel said of the athletic facility. “The kids have always been itching to get in there.

“We had deadlines and goals that kept getting pushed back.”

Now, Fort Recovery can show it off.

“It’s been unbelievable,” Fort Recovery High School principal Jeff Hobbs said of the anticipation of getting the project completed. “I’ve been the guy that couldn’t wait to get in here and see the kids getting better. It’s just neat.

“I think our kids are fired up about taking our athletics to the next level and having the opportunity that this building will give them.”

The 12,000-square-foot facility was built at the same time the school’s renovation took place. The new building, constructed at the southwest corner of the school property, features the Staugler Family Weight Room, the Willie and Annie Lochtefeld Track, the Cooper Farms Multipurpose Area and the Charles L. Sommer Baseball Batting Cage.

The weight room area has 12 squat and bench press weight racks, three core workout stations, a treadmill and an array of free dumbbell weights.

FORT RECOVERY — They’ve been anxious, yet patient at the same time.

And on Sunday, the Fort Recovery High School administration will get to share the excitement about its new athletic facility with the community.

The Jerome and Maurice Grieshop Athletic Training Facility will be unveiled at a dedication ceremony and open house from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Fort Recovery High School.

In addition to opening its doors to a new building, residents will be able to see upgrades the school has made during it’s $3.4 million renovation project that has taken more than two years.

“We had deadlines and goals of when it would be open,” FRHS athletics director Kurt Rammel said of the athletic facility. “The kids have always been itching to get in there.

“We had deadlines and goals that kept getting pushed back.”

Now, Fort Recovery can show it off.

“It’s been unbelievable,” Fort Recovery High School principal Jeff Hobbs said of the anticipation of getting the project completed. “I’ve been the guy that couldn’t wait to get in here and see the kids getting better. It’s just neat.

“I think our kids are fired up about taking our athletics to the next level and having the opportunity that this building will give them.”

The 12,000-square-foot facility was built at the same time the school’s renovation took place. The new building, constructed at the southwest corner of the school property, features the Staugler Family Weight Room, the Willie and Annie Lochtefeld Track, the Cooper Farms Multipurpose Area and the Charles L. Sommer Baseball Batting Cage.

The weight room area has 12 squat and bench press weight racks, three core workout stations, a treadmill and an array of free dumbbell weights.

A three-lane track runs the length of the facility, and at the south end of the building — the multipurpose area — is half of a

basketball court.
It also also has room to play

volleyball and two batting cage nets hang from the ceiling.

The facility, named after J&M Manufacturing founders and lifelong Fort Recovery residents Jerome and Maurice Grieshop, cost nearly $900,000, with twothirds of that coming from the Fort Recovery Athletic Boosters.

The Grieshop brothers, who

have been supporters of Fort Recovery athletics for many years, were considerable donors to the project.

“The nice part has been the unbelievable support of the Fort Recovery community,” Hobbs said. “The majority of those dollars are Fort Recovery donations — the people in this community that knew what this facility would mean for our students. “

The Tribe sports teams won’t be the only beneficiaries of the new facility, Hobbs said, noting the band has spent time inside this season during inclement

weather.
Dave Blockberger, offensive

coordinator for the football team and health and physical education teacher, said the expanded space allows the athletes more of a chance to improve their skills.

“I think the coolest thing is it gives the kids the opportunity to be as good as they want to be so they have access to everything,” he said.

While the administration has been excited to open the doors to the public, the athletes have already been taking full advantage.

“It’s a great pleasure,” senior Seth Riegle said of being able to use the new facility. “Our old weight room was pretty nice, then we moved into the bus barn while they were making this thing ... that was pretty cramped.

“Coming in here, it’s like a whole new world, it’s spacious.”

Forty Nine Degrees, a design company in Coldwater, Ohio, was commissioned to make graphics at the northeast and southwest corners of the building, featuring the likenesses of Fort Recovery athletes.

Additionally, decals with the

Indians’ logo, “FR” letters and “Where The Tribe Trains” are emblazoned on the purple rafters. The decals, Hobbs said, were made by Norm Leugers’ industrial technology course.

“It’s about ownership,” Hobbs said of the students having a part in the building’s construction. “You want kids to buy in and have ownership so that this facility is important to them and hope they will take care of it.”

For photos of the Jerome and Maurice Grieshop Athletic Training Facility, visit www.thecr.com.