Ohio County High School opening new auxiliary gym

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OHIO

Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022 37

Ohio County High School opening new auxiliary gym

BY KARAH WILSON

MESSENGER-INQUIRER

Ohio County High School is opening a newly-built auxiliary gym to add additional space for teams within the district.

OCHS principal Alex Embry said the discussion around the need for an auxiliary gym began six to seven years ago.

“We had some other things and other schools in the district that needed more attention at the time, so it got put on the back-burner,” he said.

Embry said with the current superintendent, Seth Southard, and a focus on making the auxiliary gym happen, the space has been in the works for approximately two-and-a-half years.

“Last August is when we broke ground and tried to get the ground to pass certification so we could begin building on it, and we’re now getting to the point where we’re getting ready to use it,” Embry said.

The auxiliary gym will see several uses. During the day, the building will house JROTC, who will have access to the gym area. The Ohio County Alternative Learning Program students will also use the gym during the day for their physical education classes.

“In the evening when school is out, we will use the gym for practice spaces for our basketball teams, cheerleaders and dance teams,” Embry said.

There is also a designated space with wall-to-wall mats for the wrestling team to practice, and it will host matches at the gym. Embry said the district also plans on hosting middle school basketball and volleyball games in the gym portion. Embry said before the new auxiliary gym was built, the wrestling team was practicing in a multipurpose room of sorts.

“This gives them a much updated and upgraded place for them to practice,” he said. “Wrestling could only get two home dates for matches here because our gym was used so much for basketball. This gives them the flexibility to host eight to 10 matches a year instead of traveling all the time.”

The varsity high school basketball and volleyball games will still be held in the main high school gym.

“The first practice window was 3-5 p.m. and the second was from 5-7 p.m. so every night, someone was not getting home until 7:30 or 8 p.m.,” Embry said. “Now we can all practice after school — one group in the new gym and one group in the old gym. It will allow for more flexibility.”

Embry wanted to thank the Ohio County Public Schools board and Southard for their vision and putting the financial backing behind the gym.

“A few weeks ago we had a youth basketball camp in the auxiliary gym that couldn’t have happened because the high school gym was booked,” he said. “I think it’s going to make not only our sports teams and athletic clubs better, but it will help the community and give them a place as well.”

Exterior of the new Wells Auxiliary Building on the campus of Ohio County High School.

Photo by Alan Warren, awarren@messenger-inquirer.com

“I think it’s going to make not only our sports teams and athletic clubs better, but it will help the community and give them a place as well.” — Alex Embry OCHS principal