Good News: Grain Valley coaches, athletes relish addition of new weight room, turf field

by Michael Smith
 
Late spring and this summer, athletes at Grain Valley High School got to enjoy some of the benefits of a $32 million bond issue voter approved on April 4, 2023.
 
The bond issue, which primarily aimed to fund the high school gymnasium and fieldhouse addition, included an addition of a new weight room and turf field for the baseball and softball teams to use, both of which have been completed and used this year.
 
The additions have created buzz among the students and coaches as they have enjoyed using both facilities.
 
The new weight room, on the southwest side of the school, will affect all 20 sports programs for the high school. It has two brand new weight racks and new weights athletes can use to improve their strength and conditioning.
 
The equipment came from some of the best companies for designing weightlifting equipment like Sorinex and Intek. There are also spots where students can use jammer arms and have areas to work on medicine ball exercises along with some plyometric boxes used for step up and jumping exercises.
 
“It’s state of the art,” Grain Valley head football coach David Allie said of the new weight room. “The district made a huge investment in the Grain Valley athletes and it’s going to help improve athletic performances. There is nothing we can’t do in that room.”
 
“When the weight room opened, it was like Christmas in May for the kids. The first couple of weeks were awe inspiring. The kids were excited to just look at it. We now have one of the best weight rooms not only in the metro, but possibly the state.”
 
Head softball coach Flip Courter shared the same excitement for the weight room as Allie.
 
“It’s definitely a step up from what we had and it’s a much more organized space,” Courter said. “All the equipment is top notch. The admin and everyone involved in putting this together spared no expense. The things we are able to do in this weight room we would have never been able to do in our old weight room.”
 
All of the new equipment allows each individual athletic program to tailor the workouts based on what will benefit the athletes for their specific sport.
 
“It’s probably the most used room in the entire school district,” Grain Valley activities director Brandon Hart said. “If you don’t have a strong conditioning program, then your athletics are going to suffer. We’ve built a program to meet the diverse needs of each individual. There are attachments to the racks that will allow kids to customize their workouts to be tailored to the sport they are participating in.”
 
As for the turf field, the baseball team broke it in during a jamboree against Lee’s Summit West and Truman on March 9.
 
The new field, which will be used for both the baseball and softball teams, is beneficial for coaches and players as it requires a minimum amount of maintenance and will prevent it from being unplayable after rain or thunderstorms.
 
The dimensions are 305 feet to right field, 375 to center and 300 to left. For softball games, the school has fencing panels the team can use to shorten the distance needed for a hitter to earn a home run.
 
When both teams had their old grass fields, it was difficult to play games after rain.
 
“On the old field, you could find crawdads in the outfield,” Hart said. “Our outfields were probably one of the worst in the city prior to this renovation. 
 
“The turf field has been a game changer for our programs. You can play on turf 365 days a year.”
 
Courter agreed.
 
“We had one of the lower end softball facilities in the Suburban Conference and possibly in the entire (Kansas City) metro and now we have one of the best,” Courter said. “I got a message from a mom that said her daughter was excited to get out there on the new field.”
 
“We can now practice after it has been raining.”
 
Courter said it will be an adjustment for some of his players to go from playing on a dirt infield and grass outfield, to a full turf field, but the change for him and his players has been a big positive. The addition of the new field likely will make Grain Valley High School one of the primary options to host a future district tournament.
 
“The field is going to be a little more bouncy than they are used to,” Courter said. “A lot of these girls play year-round and have familiarity with playing on turf. We play quite a few teams that are already on turf.”
 
“We will work on keeping our throws low and let the turf help get the ball where it needs to go.”
 
In addition to the turf field, there is a facility next to it that Courter has dubbed “The Barn.” It is an outhouse that is equipped with two full size batting cages, a turf area and lockers. It will be used when there is inclement weather outside.
 
Courter said his team can field ground balls, take batting practice and participate in bullpen sessions in The Barn.
 
The leftover turf from the field was used for The Barn. It will function as a locker room and clubhouse,” Courter said. “I talked to other coaches and they are jealous of the new field and they are really jealous of the new facility.”
 
“We couldn’t have done this without the support of the community. There is going to be a huge percentage of the student population that is going to use at least one of these new facilities.”

Freshman Ellarae Hay ​fields a ground ball on the new turf field.  Photo credit: Michael Smith

Senior Izzy Salsman uses the new weight equipment during her routine. Photo credit: Michael Smith

Grain Valley sophomore Molly Jones leaps on top of a plyometric box in the new high school weight room.  Photo credit: Michael Smith