SCHOOLS Leetonia stadium scores big with fans

Workers are putting the finishing touches on the district's first regulation track.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LEETONIA -- Leetonia school officials are ecstatic after two high school football varsity games played in the distirct's new football complex.
Fans packed the stadium for games Sept. 18 and 25. Two more home games remain, set for Oct. 15 and 22.
"This facility is just light years away from what we had before, and it was great to finally be on the field and get that first game in," Superintendent Tom Inchak said. "We had really great crowds and the weather cooperated, even after Hurricane Ivan."
The remnants of Hurricane Ivan dumped heavy rain in the area Sept. 17, but there were no flooding problems at the field, he said.
Inaugural game
The inaugural game Sept. 18 was a celebration of 100 years of Leetonia football and featured recognition of many former players.
Athletics Director Marcia Duko said she has received many good comments about the facility from players and coaches of visiting teams. She said the schedules were designed to delay the opening of the stadium until the first home game for the high school varsity team, so many of the area teams have not yet played on the new field.
"We sold 980 tickets at one gate and 200 at the other and there were lots of presale tickets, so we were pretty packed for that first game," Duko said. "The players are very excited and really appreciate the new facility, especially after they played all the games last year away."
Locker rooms and a weight-training room are just a few feet from the end of the north end zone. Coaches from any of the school district's sports teams can schedule times for their players to use the weight-training facility, she said.
Two more home games remain for the high school varsity team, Oct. 15 and 22.
New track
Meanwhile, workers are putting the finishing touches on the district's first regulation track. The eight-lane cinder track is just west of the football stadium.
Duko said track and other spring sports athletes can begin practices in March and the track should be ready.
"We will have a regulation track, and for the first time our students can run a 440 and high jump and long jump and throw shot put on their own field," he noted.
Any hope that the football stadium could be used for the 2003 season was wiped out as construction was delayed by heavy rains, so the football teams all played their scheduled home games in neighboring school districts.
The old football complex was demolished along with the old high school after the district completed a building project that included construction of school facilities for kindergarten through 12th grades. The district did not have a regulation track at that location.
New softball and baseball fields were ready for play for the respective 2003 seasons. The track is the last of the athletic fields to be completed. Other facilities such as tennis or outdoor basketball courts could be added as funding is available.
tullis@vindy.com