Volleyball scrimmage inaugurates Shelton High’s new gym floor
SHELTON — It’s season may be over, but that did not stop the varsity volleyball team from christening the school’s new state-of-the-art gymnasium floor.
The Shelton High gym floor was damaged last April when a batted ball broke a sprinkler head, causing water to shower onto the floor for some time before it was shut off.
The gym floor, originally installed in the 1970s, has been buckling and deemed unsafe for activities — such as physical education classes and athletic contests — since the accident during April break. Replacement work began just prior to this school year and was completed last week.
“We’re so excited to finally have this in place,” Superintendent Ken Saranich said Monday after the girls' volleyball team played a scrimmage on the new floor. “The team christened the court … they were the first to use the floor, and they left their mark.”
The scrimmage was part of a celebration of the completed work. Among those in attendance to see the finished product were members of the Board of Education and Board of Aldermen. Saranich said physical education classes – which had been held outdoors – will be moved inside starting Tuesday.
“It is a beautiful combination of contrasting wood and will be durable and long lasting to meet the demands of the many sporting events that will utilize the facility,” board Chairwoman Kathy Yolish said about the new floor.
Yolish credited the working relationship between the board, school central office and Mayor Mark Lauretti for getting the work done in a timely manner. She specifically praised board members John Fitzgerald and James Orazietti for their efforts in working alongside school Facilities Director John Calhoun, school officials and Lauretti during the process.
Saranich said the final floor design was a collaboration with input from coaches and student athletes.
"The end result is a state-ofthe-art floor that the builder called probably the best gym floor of any high school in the state,” Saranich said. “The floor and materials are identical to (the University of Connecticut’s) Gampel Pavilion.”
The city took over the floor’s repair and replacement, since the high school is a city building. The city will pay a $10,000 deductible, with the insurance carrier paying the remainder of the cost.
The Board of Education also approved an additional $6,000 for stain work and upgrading the logo – which is permanent so it would not need to be sanded and
redone every few years, according to board Vice Chair James Orazietti.
“I am so excited that the gym is now ready for the upcoming basketball games,” Yolish said. “I know all of the students and parents will enjoy seeing the games played on this beautiful, new court.”
Saranich said, during an indoor baseball practice in April, a baseball player taking batting practice in an indoor batting cage hit a ball that went through an opening in the cage netting. The ball then struck a piece of the sprinkler system, breaking the valve and
causing water to continually flow onto the floor.
Saranich said school maintenance was able to shut down the water, but the damage had already been done. It took time to dry out the area, but water seeped under the wood, causing buckling and making it dangerous for students to play athletics on it.
“The accident was unfortunate,” Saranich said, “but the floor was dated.”
Saranich said the new floor comes with increased shock absorbency, which he says will offer a safer playing environment
for student athletes.
"This is the same flooring system used in Gampel Pavilion and is considered the finest available,” Orazietti said. “The floor has a little bounce to it due to the subflooring construction comparable to our athletic field that was constructed with an underlayment/concussion pad that can help with severity of athletic injuries.”
“We are extremely proud to be able to add this to our outstanding athletics facilities,” Orazietti added.