For the first time in eight years, the LHS football team will be practicing on their home turf. Over the summer, two new practice fields were built along the east and southeast side of the school. The fields were one of several improvements to LHS sporting facilities. Other improvements include new track surface, throwing grounds and jumping pits.

The decision to construct new fields was made in an effort to move football practice back to LHS, instead of at Howard Wood Field, where the team has been practicing due to a lack of space on school grounds. The enhancements will make Patriot athletic facilities comparable to our east and west side rivals. With varsity as well as underclass teams practicing at the same time, there simply was not enough room on the one field at LHS for practice.  To fix the problem, the team was sent across town for practice.

The twenty minute drive proved to be a hassle to some.

“It is nice not having to drive out to Howard Wood,” Collin Kjose, varsity football player, said. “It saves a lot of time as well as gas.”

Those that could not drive had to take a bus furnished by the school district.

 “One of the main reasons was to cut down transportation to Howard Wood Field,” Jim Dorman, athletic director, said. “And this way athletic training isn't split.”

Volleyball, tennis, cheerleading and dance teams were skimmed on athletic trainers due to the majority of the staff being out at Howard Wood to attend to football players.

“Last year when I fell from a stunt, there was no training staff available to help me,” varsity cheerleader Ciara Milikan said. “It will be great to have the trainers here to assist with injuries.”

In previous years, the football filed had been inhabited by another activity: marching band.  As evidenced by the giant muddy hole in the middle field in previous years, the marching band exposed the field to the wear and tear of a large crowd of musicians. Although completed last year, the fields were unavailable because the newly planted grass needed to grow.

The wait was well worth it-- by this year’s first band practice, the fields were in top shape and ready to be utilized. Now, the band rotates fields in an effort to keep them all in good condition.

 “It is nice not having to march on a worn out field, I no longer have chunks of mud on my shoes after practice,” marching band member Richard Thomason said.

With football back at school, the band must now share a field that has been theirs for many years.

 “Scheduling between the band and the football team has been one of the main problems so far,” Dorman said. “Overall the construction has been a great thing for the school.”

In addition to new football fields, the track, jumping pits and throwing grounds were refurbished. Construction of the new track, originally scheduled to be slated the summer 2008, was postponed to the summer of 2009 due to increased fuel prices and construction costs. Coaches and athletes alike are excited about the additions.

“The biggest thing will be that we can now host meets here at Lincoln,” head track and field coach James Jarovski said.

In previous years the team was forced to host meets at Howard Wood Field and Washington High School due to the lack of a proper facility.

“As for practice, it [the new track] will help because there will be less chance of injuries, the biggest one being shin injuries,” Jarovski said.

Like football, field athletes were often sent to Howard Wood Field for practice. For an already successful girls’ jumps team, which claimed the top three spots in the state in triple jump at the state meet last year in addition to a high jump championship, the new facilities will aid them in their quest to defend their titles.

“Now the jumping pits are much nicer,” high jump state champion Mary Wirth said. “It will be nice to practice at LHS with the rest of the team.”

The renovations, many hope, will enhance the athlete’s abilities to compete.

“I hope with the additions our athletes can kick butt even more than they did before,” Char Swenson, custodial supervisor, said.