This year’s spring pole vaulting season is going to look different for senior Charlie Beazley, as no one will be able to use the William Lutz Stadium after April 23 based on current plans to renovate.
“We are going to be able to get through it,” said Beazley. “I have no fears that this will in any way stop us from doing really well [or] stop us from competing at a high level.”
Glenbrook High School District #225 plans to renovate the Glenbrook North stadium as part of its 10-year Master Facility Plan. The demolition of the home-side bleachers is scheduled to start Nov. 1. The last day for all spring sports teams to use the turf field and track is scheduled to be April 23 as construction for those areas of the stadium is planned to start April 24.
The new stadium is scheduled to be opened on Aug. 30, said Molly Tomlinson, assistant principal of athletics.
The new stadium plans include larger bleachers on both sides, larger bathrooms, more storage space, a larger concession stand and a smaller additional concession stand on the visitor side, Tomlinson said.
The track, turf and press box are planned to be redone, with other new features added including a grand entrance located further south by the athletic parking lot, an athletic trainers’ room, a booster club spirit shop and safety netting on the turf field, Tomlinson said.
“[The training room, bathrooms, concession stand and spirit shop] will be accessible from the backfields as well,” said Tomlinson. “So if we have things going on at the stadium, but also in the back soccer fields and back lacrosse fields, we can function the concession stand and the restrooms.”
According to Matt Bowser, associate principal of operations and student experiences, mostly everything is being replaced in terms of plumbing, electrical and those types of things.
“When the district did their Master Facility Plan, they really identified needs, both inside and outside the building that needed to be improved based on a variety of sources,” said Bowser. “… So outdoor facilities was certainly high on that list, and that’s ultimately kind of set the direction of where the district, our administration, the board of education, where they wanted to go with these projects.”
According to Beazley, the renovations are a bit frustrating, and there will be certain things the track team will have to do in order to adjust.
“We might have to move practice indoors, which isn’t ideal for competition because there are different [conditions] indoors and outdoors,” Beazley said.
According to Sean Brandt, head boys track and field coach, the renovations will affect track more than any other sport because track has the most athletes in the school and every other team has alternative fields to practice at.
“I think all of the [track] coaches feel the same way I do, which is [that we will do] whatever it takes to make sure this season is not derailed, because we have the best track athletes overall depthwise than we’ve ever had,” said Brandt. “We’re not going to let anything stop them from accomplishing what they can.”
According to Tomlinson, with the renovations overall, the district is hoping future student athletes can have the best experience and the coaches can have the best space to give athletes the opportunity to compete at the highest level.
According to Beazley, it’s a great thing that the team gets a new track, and it’s absolutely something that’s going to be incredible for the class that comes after this year.
“We know we will have a great season,” said Beazley. “No matter the adversity, it’s just a bit of a hurdle that’s put in place.”
Editor’s note: According to the Oct. 12 District #225 Board Brief released in an email, “The district plans to explore ways to sequence construction to allow some track-and-field events to take place.”