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The 2004 2A District III, Region II Mens and Womens A.S.A.A. High School Basketball Tournaments will be hosted
by Lumen Christi High School in the brand new gym. The seating capacity is estimated at just
over 550 with a full length (94 foot) court and top of the line facilities to boot. The tournament plays host to these
teams: Bristol Bay Angels, Homer Christian Knights (men only), Cook Inlet Academy Eagles, Lumen Christi Archangels, Nikolaevsk
Warriors, Ninilchik Wolverines, Seldovia Sea Otters and the Unalaska Raiders.
| Photo taken October 2002 |
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| Ground Broken! |
Before and After: The Gym
At long last, the construction of the gymnasium is complete. It took over a year, with ground having been broken in the
fall of 2002. The first official games ever played in the building, versus Su Valley on December 16, were preceded by a dedication
ceremony, and a blessing by Archbishop Schweitz. The girls fell behind late in their first game and lost, but the boys inagurated
the gym in style with a thourough 52-20 thumping of the Rams. This was the school's second ever victoy against a 3A varsity
or better (The only other coming vs. Su Valley in fall 2002.), and the largest margin of victory to that date that the men
have ever won a game by (The newer current record is 51, at Su Valley on 1/9/03).
The facility has drawn much attention, and for good reason, it is the envy of many programs, including just about
every 2A school in Alaska. All of this would not be possible without the financial support of the parishoners of St. Benedicts
Parish. On behalf of the entire school, we would all like to thank Fr. Giebel, Archbishop Schweitz, the parents and parishoners,
and everyone else who made this possible.
To find a journal of the gym in progress, check out the gym page on the site, or the archives.
-(1/21/04)
| COMPLETE!!! |
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| 2/14/04 - (Photo by Roni Withington) |
In The Fall of 2002 we began the next
building project for St. Benedict Parish. We began construction of a two million dollar multi purpose building which will
house a full size gymnasium (the future home court of the Archangels). This will benefit our parish youth programs and archdiocesan
retreat programs. It will also give the students of Lumen Christi the professional gym needed to contnue their great
sports program. Over one million dollars has been pledged over the next three years. Construction will be completed during the
Fall of 2003.
Gymnasium Construction and Updates:
12/3: Delayed. Thats the word; there is only one thing holding up the school from being able move in to the building.
An permit of occupancy that the city has to give is being held up on account of insufficient handicaped parking, and the bleachers
not being completed. The bleechers are now complete though, and a second inspection is scheduled for next wednesday, with
any luck, the team will be able to use the new gym for a scrimmage game slated for that friday against Su Valley.
11/10 - Finishing Touches - The only items of note that are yet to be completed are
the finish on the hardwood floor and the instalation of the bleachers. The hoops are up, and the lines will be painted this
week, followed by the finishing coats, which will take at least a week to cure to the floor. It is expected that Monday, November
24 will be the first day that students and players can test out the new gym floor for themselves officially. The Archbishop
will be on hand the Sunday prior to assist with the dedication of the building. Father Giebel gave the the school
tours of the building to date, and insists that he is going to be the first to slam-dunk in the new building (with the aid
of a hydrolic man-lift of course).
There was some vandalism to note, a pair of windows in the upstairs were
blown out in the last month. On a positive note, heres a list of what IS done: the tile floors, locker rooms (minus
the lockers), kitchen/concession stand, upstairs rooms, six basketball hoops each complete with a clear glass backboard, plumbing/showers.
In other words, Lumen Christi is by all means, a bonafide high school, complete with the works.
8/14: Going Up - It actually resembles what it is, a gymnasium. The red and grey
brick has been laid and the walls are all comple with insulation. Interior walls are in place and electrical work is
underway. The second floor is off limits for visitors (actually the whole building is, but there is little risk if you just
want to browse through). Air vents to be hung from the ceiling, window and door frames, as well as sheetrock are whats
on tap for construction for the next week. Completion is still scheduled for some time in November. (pictures soon)
7/30: The roof is complete, the back wall is done, and the other three are being finished.
The second floor is going in nicely, the stairs are in and the concrete for it will be poured tomorrow. The parking lot was
paved on monday. The completion date is still set for early to mid November, so work is on schedule since the last update.
7/2: The foundation is set, the skeleton is in place, and the walls are being completed. The giant skeleton of the gym
dwarfs the school building at this point already.
5/29: Disappointment is the story around
the school. A surprise to everyone as they came to school, this past thursday. No giant Tonka toy concrete trucks. The concrete
pouring date that had been moved up to thrusday from friday, didn't go through. Appearantly the inspector of the re-bar (reinforcement
bars that are inside the concrete) didn't like what he saw, and told the workers to hold off until the problems could be corrected.
The pouring is now scheduled for all of tuesday, 6/3. The entire project completion date has been moved back as well, from
October to November. The administration is pushing for an earlier completion and will meet this week to discuss the possibility
of speeding up work, maybe even finishing just after school begins, if that's not impossible.
5/26: After much delay, the concrete has a concrete date now. The slab will be poured by three crews working around the
clock on this friday, May 30th. Pray for good weather!
Excerpt from the St. Benedict's parish bulletin 5/11:
This week they finished the install of the sewer line. Notice the lack of a public swimming pool
or fish pond! They also placed sub gravel for the cement pad that will be installed in the near future. The miles of cable
for the pad arrived this week and will begin to take form shortly.
5/9: The moat has reappeared. This time it's back with a vengance. The holes that needed to
be dug, required the basketball hoop to be removed. This came as a shock to many students. (This is the hoop that appeared
in the ADN article) Fortunately, the workers put the hoop back up again once they were done. Concrete pouring is scheduled
to begin next week.
4/26: The moat is gone, and the holes are filled. Pipes have been laid, and the ground has been steamrolled flat. The
parking lot has also been scraped and flattened, it is in the process of being paved.
Progress: Heavy machinery scattered throughout the parking lot and across the
back lot, as well as a blue fiberglass outhouse are among the many items that indicate that something in going on. Building
is full time now, and plumbing is currently being laid. A giant "moat" has been dug around the perimiter of the plot, and
pipes have been laid there, waiting for school to end, so that they can be hooked up to the water main connection, located
under the hallway in the school. The spring melt is over, and the ground is dry and covered in topsoil, delivered by dumptrucks
in seemingly never ending waves. Once the plumbing and other utilities have been laid, the foundation can be poured, and walls
can be started.
-(4/24/03)
Gym Update:
Updated plans for the gym, just determined last night, are: There WILL
be a hardwood floor (maple probably), and there will be tile in the bathrooms, as well as various other improvements. This
new development is courtesy of the Archbishop, who agreed to the reccommended additions. The additions will cost about 200
thousand more though, bringing the total to 2.15 million. On another positive note: construction on the gym is up and going
two weeks earler than expected. Trucks and heavy machinery deliver their loads constantly while school is in session,
and it's not hard to miss. Even teachers are caught every now and then looking out the windows admiring the progress.
-(4/10/03)
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