School shows off gym floor
The floor glistened as the girls varsity basketball team ran drills Tuesday on the freshly resurfaced court under the guidance of coach Rudy Chabes.
The gym floor received a long overdue makeover earlier this month in time for basketball and wrestling seasons and daily physical education classes.
School officials will hold a dedication ceremony at 7 p.m. on Tuesday prior to the boys’ game against the Gary West Side Leadership Academy.
“The floor was so old, it had yellowed,” said athletic director Jeff Bean. “This is kind of a rebranding.”
Boys basketball coach Bob Burke, who teaches physical education, couldn’t wait.
“The inspiration? We wanted it as big and as obnoxious as possible,” he said of the giant Eagle, the school’s nickname, perched at center court. “I’d love to see the logo from one end to the other and make it stand out.”
It doesn’t go quite that far, but it can’t be missed.
The $30,000 job was completed by A&H Athletic Floor Services, based in Carmel. The company has done several high school gym floors in Northwest Indiana.
“They said it was the biggest logo they’ve done,” said Bean. “It used to just say ‘Eagles’ but we added the full name, ‘Fighting Eagles,’ and ‘Lake Station’ and on both ends.”
Burke helped design the big Eagle and they updated lines on the court, including the 3-point shooting line.
“The kids were excited during the whole process; they were peeking through the doors over the three weeks,” said Burke.
The project displaced the girls’ basketball team for a few weeks, but players love the new court.
“I think it looks great and it feels a lot better on my feet,” said senior team captain and point guard Nasiya Gause, 17.
“I really like the centerpiece of the Eagle being as big as it is. I think it represents our school very well.”
She also likes the new black lines for the 3-point line.
“It helps me know where I’m at on the court instead of it being all one color,” she said.
Next up, Bean said the school wants to install a machine in the gym ceiling that automatically lowers an American flag.