By Linda Dillman
Staff Writer
The Canal Winchester football locker room is getting new lockers this summer—ones like those found at the collegiate level.
During the July 16 Canal Winchester Board of Education meeting, the board approved a $64,056 contract with Custom Craftworks for the lockers with the local Touchdown Club contributing $39,056 to the project.
“The (current) lockers weren’t an adequate size,” said Treasurer Nick Roberts. “They were normal school lockers and they couldn’t even get their shoulder pads in there.”
According to Touchdown Club President Greg Allen, the organization became involved in the project in May. He said local businesses, football parents, alumni and fans are generous supporters during off-season fundraisers subsidizing endeavors like the locker project.
“This new locker room is a direct result of donations from our community,” said Allen. “We have many events and small fundraisers through off season like the Mike Locke Memorial golf outing, our annual mattress sale, youth football camp, Kingy’s fundraiser, and our Touchdown Club discount card sale. The CW football locker room shows how invested our town is in seeing our young people succeed on the field, in the classroom and in our community.”
Allen said the Touchdown Club was involved in the decision-making process and the best options for players’ needs were balanced with responsible stewardship of funds the community provided.
As a Canal Winchester football parent and alumni, Allen said he knows how important it is for kids to have neighbors and a community that support their work on the field and in the classroom.
“Our coaches make sure our players appreciate what our town does for them and they pay it forward through community service,” said Allen. “You’ll see our players volunteering around town, helping out at food drives and doing yard work for our senior citizens. They know that their new locker room, their jerseys and their team meals happen because our community supports them. And that’s powerful for our young people to know. They want to make their town proud when they’re out there on the field.”
Athletic Director Pat Durbin said a tour of the facility—which also includes a new coach’s room, television, carpeting and tables—is scheduled for Aug. 22 in connection with the unveiling of new BrockStrong signage.
