SPORTS
hockadayfourcast.org
May 17, 2021
Land use plan moves ahead
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First steps focus on infrastructure improvements, utility work
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by Anna Gum Co-Editor-In-Chief he Hockaday Athletic Department has made visible progress since releasing a Request for Proposal to work on a Land Use plan in December 2018. After selecting HOK, a global design, architecture, engineering and planning firm, as the design partner for the plan, Athletic Director Deb Surgi worked with a number of people within the Hockaday community to progress the plan. The Athletics and Wellness team, Hockaday Chief Operations Officer Joan Guzman, Chief Financial Officer JT Coats, Eugene McDermott Head of School Dr. Karen Warren Coleman and Assistant Director to Athletics Jen Johnson are a few of the numerous people involved in the project. In the last three years they have
surveyed alumnae, toured campus, consulted with parents, students, department chairs, faculty and staff and Board Members at stakeholder meetings with HOK and in ongoing weekly Core Team Meetings. In Coach Surgi’s words, the process has been largely collaborative. While much of their plan has yet to take form, the early phases of the land use plan were initiated in fall 2018. Aimed toward utility infrastructure improvements, the early steps will be followed with utility work in the late spring to early summer to divert storm water from campus to Bachman Creek. Once these preliminary steps see completion, the more visible, perhaps more exciting, work will begin — as early as Fall 2021. As approved by the Hockaday Board of Trustees in March 2020, the Land Use Plan includes plans to
Architect’s rendering of the land use plan.
reorganize existing athletic fields in a North-South configuration and the addition of a Track and Field venue — complete with four synthetic turf fields, two new grass fields and two new softball skinned diamonds — a plaza with a concession stand, a locker room that includes a lounge area, a storage unit and outdoor classrooms,
gathering spaces and a crosscountry path. The plan also notes the possibility of a future natatorium, new parking, improved fitness and wellness facilities and spectatorfriendly event access. The updates aim to further promote Hockaday athletics and student well-being.
Checking in Continued from page 18 Tennis Varsity tennis won its last four counter games, with an overall record of 4–2. Although there were a few bumps along the way, the team ended the season on a winning streak. “I think the one word to describe this season is resilience,” senior captain Rosemary Sands said. Although there was no SPC tournament for tennis this year, the varsity team will be ranked in third place for the overall season. Even without the SPC tournament, team members cited highlights of the season such as the team trip to Oklahoma City to play against Casady. Senior Kelsey Chen, Sands’ co-captain, said her favorite match this season was against Trinity Valley. “We beat Trinity Valley in a counter match even though we had lost to them during a practice match earlier in the season,” Chen said.
photo courtesy of Deb Surgi
In the last match of the season, varsity tennis defeated Fort Worth Country Day School 4-1.
Softball Varsity softball ended its season on a six-game winning streak. “The most memorable game of the season was against Trinity Valley,” sophomore co-captain Maia Hartley said. “It was really exciting winning against a good team.” Between COVID-19 and the weather, many games were cancelled or rescheduled. “The season has exceeded my expectations,” senior co-captain Avery Antes said. Softball did have a degree of normalcy with spectators being allowed, but there will be no SPC tournament this year. “A good word for this season would be perseverance,” Antes said.
photo courtesy of Deb Surgi
Varsity Softball closed the season with a win over Prestonwood Christian, after celebrating senior night on April 28.
