Courting athletes

HOLLIDAYSBURG - Whether in favor of a decision to construct a new gymnasium at Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School or against it, the first round of squeaking sneakers are set to hit the gym floor tonight.

The first girls basketball game will be played in the new gym as the Golden Tiger Roundball Classic basketball tournament kicks off.

School board members who voted for the construction stand behind their decision to build the 11,722-square foot gymnasium has a seating capacity of 1,250.

Board member Laurie Smith, who voted in favor of the renovation project, said the timing made sense because of the other renovations taking place.

The $3.2 million gym is part of a $35 million senior high school renovation project, which is scheduled for completion in February.

"Renovating the existing gym and bringing it up to code would have resulted in a gymnasium with 25 percent less seating capacity than it already had, and it still would have been necessary to build an addition for six classrooms and a weight room," spokeswoman Linda Russo said. "In the end, it cost less than 1 percent more to build a new gymnasium rather than renovate the old and to create two floors in the existing gym to house the new classrooms."

"I've never seen them so excited," he said of the girls basketball team hitting the court for practice in the new gym Wednesday. "You had to be there to appreciate it. [It was] nice to see the kids be so excited."

Some in the community aren't as excited.

Sandra A. Wilt of Duncansville had spoken out in opposition of the construction in a May letter to the editor appearing in the Mirror.

When contacted Wednesday, Wilt said she still feels the same about the matter.

"I don't think the board should have spent that much money," she said.

Wilt said the new gym was unnecessary because the district had two gyms in place that spectators weren't using.

President William Padamonsky, who voted in favor of the construction, said after 40 years the makeover was due.

Board member Eric McCoy said the decision was before his time on the board and declined further comment. Newly elected board member Brady Leahey said he was not familiar enough with the matter to comment.

Considering the timing of the construction, newly elected board member Stephanie Wertz said she would have liked to have waited until the economy was better.

Newly elected board member Wally Tomassetti declined to discuss the matter, saying he did not know enough details to comment and instead is concentrating on the future.

"We are where we are," he said.

Mirror Staff Writer Amanda Clegg is at 949-7030.

The high school needed an upgrade, and big-money decisions are tough, Smith said.

"It's kind of a face lift for the senior high," she said. "For the safety of our students and community, we had to update that building."

Athletic Director Dean Rossi said the gym comes with some perks, including volleyball courts that can host tournaments, more room for gym class and teaching space, a concession stand, a larger lobby area and trophy display.

Donations paid for the gym's scoreboard and scoring tables.

"I've never seen them so excited," he said of the girls basketball team hitting the court for practice in the new gym Wednesday. "You had to be there to appreciate it. [It was] nice to see the kids be so excited."

Some in the community aren't as excited.

Sandra A. Wilt of Duncansville had spoken out in opposition of the construction in a May letter to the editor appearing in the Mirror.

When contacted Wednesday, Wilt said she still feels the same about the matter.

"I don't think the board should have spent that much money," she said.

Wilt said the new gym was unnecessary because the district had two gyms in place that spectators weren't utilizing.

President William Padamonsky, who voted in favor of the construction, said after 40 years the makeover was due.

Board member Eric McCoy said the decision was before his time on the board and declined further comment. Newly elected board member Brady Leahey said he was not familiar enough with the matter to comment.

Considering the timing of the construction, newly elected board member Stephanie Wertz said she would have liked to have waited until the economy was better.

Newly elected board member Wally Tomassetti declined to discuss the matter, saying he did not know enough details to comment and instead is concentrating on the future.

"We are where we are," he said.

Mirror Staff Writer Amanda Clegg is at 949-7030.