A sellout crowd filled the updated stands for the first home football game of the season against Glenville on September 13. The game was the official opening of the Heights High stadium, featuring all weather turf.
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Before the game, students, families, alumni, citizens and youth athletes attended the tailgate celebration, opening ceremony and ribbon cutting.
Athletic Director Kristin Hughes began the ceremony with a big thank you to the citizens of CH-UH for making the new facility a reality. Board of Education President Ron Register recognized citizen working groups that are supporting the facilities project and welcomed the stadium as the first piece of the high school renovation. Superintendent Dr. Talisa Dixon thanked the Board of Education for their leadership and city officials for their support. Administrative Principal Zoraba Ross recognized the athletes and the important role that athletics play in the life of students and the school.
The ceremonial ribbon cutting was expertly executed by student athletes from each of the Heights High athletic teams.
The enthusiastic crowd saw the Tigers fall to Glenville 19-12. Heights standouts were offensive running back Jevon Avery with 85 yards and a touchdown, James Crowder had 50 receiving yards, running back Marquise Watkins added 59 yards rushing and a touchdown.
The Sustainability Working Group, a citizen group supporting the District’s move to more environmentally friendly facilities, stood at all the recycling and trash containers to encourage fans to recycle as much as possible. The volunteers are part of the Tiger Nation Game Day Recycling Challenge, an initiative to promote waste reduction at athletic events.
Athletic Director Kristin Hughes is thrilled with the mud-free field. “This all-weather field will be used by many teams,”she said. “Besides our football team, youth and middle school football, soccer, field hockey, lacrosse, marching band, baseball and physical education classes will use this field.” She noted that the District will still use the Dennison field.
While the field surface and stands are complete, the District is working on a fundraising plan to raise dollars to add a Tiger Welcome Center that would include a concession stand and restrooms. The District’s goal is to have that in place by next fall.