Feb. 13, 2022
By Gabby Liuba
Staff Writer
After a half-year renovation project, LHS’ gym is once again open to students and staff. Gym classes and athletic teams returned to the gym early last month.
Mr. Radigan, who supervises athletics, physical education, health and driver education at LHS, said the renovations took more time than expected. He said there were unforeseen challenges during the construction process, which included painting and installation of the new bleachers, flooring, lighting, scoreboards, a sound system and wall pads.
“This has been a long time coming. Since I became the supervisor of athletics eight years ago, I’ve been trying to renovate our gym,” Radigan said. “The gym has never been updated to this magnitude.”
According to Superintendent of Schools Mr. DeCorso, the renovation project cost $618,999.24.
“The price of the project did cost more than the original price tag,” Radigan said. He said he appreciates the positive feedback the renovated gym has received from parents, teachers and opposing sports teams from surrounding towns.
“None of this [would have been] possible without everyone agreeing and financially committing to improving our athletic facilities for our students,” Radigan said.
Freshman Michael Cutola said he looks forward to using the gym after he completes his third marking period health class. “It looks much more presentable,” Cutola said.
Cutola said he likes a lot of the gym’s new features, but his favorites are the word “BEARS” written on the bleachers in white and the blue letter “L” centered on the gym floor.
“The new details add to what the town is known for,” Cutola said.
Freshman Ciara Ciarlandini, who plays on the freshman girls basketball team, said now the gym looks brighter and is more modern because of the new technology. She said she especially likes how the backboards light up after each quarter of a basketball game.
Most of Ciarlandini’s practices and games are held at Jefferson Middle Elementary School, but on Jan. 21 in a game against Bloomfield High School, she got the chance to play in the gym.
“The more we update, the more enticing [physical education classes] will be for the students.”
“It feels good to finally play in our school because of the comfort I get from playing at the school I represent,” Ciarlandini said.
She said she likes all aspects of the new gym except the temperature because it can get very cold.
Gym teacher Ms. Auteri said she likes teaching in the renovated gym.
“It seems a lot brighter, [as] the court previously felt dull and outdated,” Auteri said. “The basketball court has two tones and the ‘BEARS’ displayed on the bleachers when they are closed shows how much we stepped [up] our game,” Auteri said.
She said the gym does not require any finishing touches, but she hopes the locker rooms get renovated as well.
“The more we update, the more enticing [physical education classes] will be for the students,” Auteri said.
Sophomore Daniel Mabande said he likes the changes that were made to the gym.
“The old gym floor was yellow. It wasn’t the best,” Mabande said.
However, he said he is disappointed that the brick walls had not been updated.
Mabande said playing basketball in the new gym pushes his classmates to put in their best effort during gym class. He said he also has enjoyed running in the gym during indoor track and field practice.
“It feels good to be in there because it makes my team feel special to be somewhere new,” said Mabande.
