The562’s coverage of Lakewood Athletics is sponsored by J.P. Crawford, Class of 2013.
After seven months of renovation, Lakewood High unveiled the much-improved Tim Sweeney Gymnasium last weekend, as it opened its doors for the first time for the Steve Lewis Volleyfest.
The gym got a brand new floor, but several other major upgrades as well. Key among them during this recent record-setting hot Fall were several enormous ceiling fans, which spin with enough force to actually cool off the temperature on the court and in the stands.
“The gym is beautiful, they did a great job,” said Lakewood boys’ athletic director and girls’ volleyball coach Mike Wadley. “New floors, new bleachers, new paint, new fans.”
Wadley had an active hand in some of the details of the facility including pre-set holes to put badminton poles in. A common complaint of coaches is that the drop-on poles would damage the wood–now Lakewood can insert the poles into the court the same way they do for a volleyball net.
The other major upgrade for the Lancers was new LED lighting, which make the gym considerably brighter than any of its other LBUSD counterparts.
“It’s still not quite done, we’ve got to get some things done with the doors, but we couldn’t be happier,” said Wadley. His Lancers played the first half of their league season on the road, but will host the second half in their own gym, which will also be available for playoffs and beyond.
