Can't believe the school board and superintendent would even consider building a new small gym for high school basketball games and no longer use the Berkey Fieldhouse. What are they thinking?

Probably thinking they are going to save some money. That is a huge facility and probably expensive to operate.

It's very sad. None of us community members want to see this happen. The baord has been very sneaky lately, and really do not care about what the citizens want. We aren't getting rid of them gym when we get the new school, basically just using it for middle school sports, and of course music. Why would you waste such a valuable facility? I hate to say this, but nobody cares about the music program.... How many kids recently have earned a scholarship for athletics at Smithville, and how many have for music? It isn't close. Also, I am positive if a poll was taken for using the fieldhouse for sports, or the new gym, 99% of people in the community would want to use the fieldhouse. This $800,000 we supposedly are saving with the new school should be put into it, and I guarantee we couldn't spend it all yet. Some work on the roof, some bathroom renevations. As far as athletics, that is all that is really needed right now. New lights we put in this year, the walls are freshly painted, the hall of fame in the lobby is under construction and the trophy cases, lockerrooms, and gym floor itself are fine.

The article from the paper last week didn't paint a rosy picture. Board not allowing public citizens to speak, citizens interrupting an executive session....messy. Now it's a trust issue and rarely does it end well from there.

Anybody who wants entertainment. Meeting tonight at 6:30 at the high school. I expect a lot of angry citizens to be there....

Triway should be up for a grant for a new school soon, if our levy passes. When that happens, it's almost inevitable that we'll lose The Pit. Because of this possibility, I can empathize with the Smithville fans. I guess to address the issue at hand, it'd be one thing if they said "our renovation plans with this new grant include/require demolishing the old gym for the new one". But if they're trying to be hush-hush and not allowing any opinion, etc., that's a little different. I didn't read the article and earlier today was the first I had heard of the Berkey thing, so I'm not too familiar with the situation. But just keep in mind there might not be much else the administration can do... but if you do lose the Berkey, I feel for you, since we're losing The Pit soon, I fear.

Smithville is not losing the Berkey. The board is trying to decide if the high school should compete in the Berkey or in a new gym that seats 600 less people.

600 less seats means losing events like the WIT, and sectional basketball games, plus some other revenue generating activities. I suppose simple cost vs revenue analysis answers That question.

Personally I would hate to see the fieldhouse close.

They no longer host basketball tourney games, only volleyball games, so the outside usage has gone down from like 10 to 15 years ago. I would think that when it was built the intention was to host other events and not just Smithie home games, so the thinking has changed from then.

...all good things must come to an end unfortunately!

Orrville will also be constructing a new gymnasium that will be used for all sporting events and the current gym will be used primarily for practice. Of course Bobby Knights name will be going with the new gym Im sure, but it will be sad to no longer watch games in the tight confines of the current Rider gym. There have been some memorable games between those walls and some fine athletes have graced that court for many years. But times change and Orrville really needs the expanded space...it's kind of like that give/take relationship and you can't always make everyone happy!

Guys, somebody please help me understand here. I still do not understand why a new gym will be used when they still expect the Berkey to be used for middle school events and music. Why not high school then?! That is why everybody is mad.

Exactly, Mr. Russell! The Berkey will be used for middle school and the high school will get a new gym that seats 700 less people. Where is the logic in that? Because the Berkey might fall apart in 40 years? Old Rider, how would you feel at Orrville if you already had the big gym, and they tried to put you in a much smaller gym?

I agree with most everybody's posts. Berkey is not only a great place to watch a game but it is also fun to play there. Some of my greatest basketball memories were in that gym. Was there for two games this year and I see now reason why they have to switch to a much smaller gym. If they can pack that place, where are those 700 or so other fans supposed to sit when they move into the new gym?

First off I can understand the disapointment and anger that a lot of people have.

What is the capacity # for the field house, and what will the new gym hold? I know its 700 seats lower, but what are the real numbers?

As an AD, coach, or parent....I would be happy with just another facility that is available for us and it is for these reasons:

1. Additional athletic facility that is up to code, no safety hazards, and it is brand new.
2. No more late practices, keeping kids at the school past 8 pm.
3. You now can host events without trying to worry about your own teams not having a place to practice.
4. Now have a new place to create it's own legacy like Berkey, the Pit, Field House (Canton), Orrville's Gym..

I know a lot of people get anxiety when change is discussed....and it is because they aren't sure what to expect or because it is not like it used to be...but change can be a good thing, and I know a lot of athletes that would enjoy the chance to play in a brand new gym/field....

SO to you Smithie Alumni, Parents, Fans, Players.....be happy for all the new changes and new opportunities you will have with the new facility that you are blessed to build. I'll leave you with 2 quotes...

Any change, even for the better, is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts.
Arnold Bennett

Don't be afraid to go out on a limb -- that's where the fruit is.
--Unknown

if smithville is using Ohio Facilities money they may only be able to build a certain sized gym. Anything above and beyond there specs has to come out of Smithville's pocket. Orrville is the envy of all of wayne county right now. They are getting things done even in tough economic times. Great leadership over there and vision. Smuckers is a great partner. Hey Pit, Triway passing a levy for new school. LOL Pigs will fly first. Do like Orrville replace your oldest buildings first i.e. Shreve and Franklin. High School and Jr. High youngest structures. Older generation not buying tearing down current high school. Triway has no business to partner with, just alot of hard working people who don't like new taxes. On the Pit, worst place to watch a basketball game. No room at the scorers table, kids barely have room to check in to games. Ask the cheerleader from CVCA not a nice place to do summersaults and flips. Ouch! Now West Holmes that's a nice gym and multi functional. OSU Wrestling match. Smithville will get it right. They are conservative by nature but, usually do what is right for the kids.

OrrvilleQB;643499 wrote: What is the capacity # for the field house, and what will the new gym hold? I know its 700 seats lower, but what are the real numbers?
Berkey seats around 1,600. The new gym will seat 950 max.
As an AD, coach, or parent....I would be happy with just another facility that is available for us and it is for these reasons:

1. Additional athletic facility that is up to code, no safety hazards, and it is brand new.
The Berkey is up to code and has no safety hazards.
2. No more late practices, keeping kids at the school past 8 pm.
One new gym will not solve any scheduling problems. It only gives us 2 gyms in the district for practice. The elem. gym will be too small.
3. You now can host events without trying to worry about your own teams not having a place to practice.
If we host events, we would only have one gym for 9 teams to share.
4. Now have a new place to create it's own legacy like Berkey, the Pit, Field House (Canton), Orrville's Gym..
Would prefer to keep our current, bigger gym, which is still in great shape.

OrrvilleQB, how many gyms does Orrville have that are big enough to practice in? And what time is your latest practice? Currently Smithville has 3 gyms, if you include Marshallville, although it isn't great and is pretty far from main campus. Our kids are sometimes bused to churches in the area. Freshman boys usually practice until 9 p.m. With the current plan for the new building, we will only have TWO gyms big enough to practice in. Most in the community would like to see them keep the Berkey for the highschool to play in, and then build a middle school gym for grades 7-8 to play in and a third practice gym.

Ok, well first off thank you for giving me those capacity #'s. A gym with a capacity of 950 is more than enough to hold WCAL gamesf...Orrville's current gym that we have used for a VERY LONG time only seats 968 (and it is far less with the new bleachers installed a few years ago more isles handicap etc)...and that is for games against division I-II teams in our conference and out of conference games, sure we sit cheek to cheek but it is worth it.

Now we are building a new school and one of the highlights is a new gym. We will be keeping the old gym. The state requires that a new building has a gym. We are looking at regulation floor size with seating of 1300 to 1500. Possibilities of seat backs for Reserved seating and end zone student sections. This is just the reversal to what you guys are doing, but I get where you are coming from.

how many gyms does Orrville have that are big enough to practice in? And what time is your latest practice?

With the completion of the new high school we will have a total of 8 gyms to practice in and almost all are full regulation size.
Elementary school
Middle school
2 in the high school
2 in the Multi-Purpose Facility
Orrville Christian Church is a short walk away as well and has been open for practices.
Boys and Girls Club

I am not sure the times of practices now that we have more gyms, but I do know before the multi-purpose facililty practices would go to 9.

Orrville isn't really in a similar situation though. We have a fieldhouse that will just be sitting there, being used for middle school games. Why not use it for varsity games also? Again, if the teams in 08 and 09 for the Smithville boys would have only had 900 seats, every game would have been sold out days before the game. That isn't good. The Berkey was filled, so why downgrade? When it is bumping, it is a great homecourt advantage.

I said it was a reversal situation....we are going small to big, you are going big to small....

Trust me, we made 950 seats work with three of the areas all-time best basketball teams...'92,'95,'96.


Such is life though, nobody wants change.

happyday;643165 wrote:Old Rider, how would you feel at Orrville if you already had the big gym, and they tried to put you in a much smaller gym?

well Happy...I wouldnt be happy! LOL. I agree its a tough situation.

However, the smaller gym fits Smithville school size better. The fieldhouse was great when Smithville had boys bball WCAL contending teams in 08, but that comes how often? Girls sports playing on the hardwood has had much more success, therefore the argument that the smaller gym would have been a sellout for boys games is a mute point. When will you have teams like that again (boys)???

Also, only girls tourney is played there now with boys in wooster, so the need for the fieldhouse hosting varsity sport is much less. 950 seats will hold most, if not all, of any Smithville crowd that comes.

That being said, I love the Berkey Fieldhouse. I loved playing there and the atmosphere is great. It will be sad if it won't be utilized anymore. I hope the Green and White can come together and make a decision that satisfies all...(well, almost all)!

Actually the girls games are now at Triway, only volleyball at Smithville anymore.

Ohio schools facility money says you have to have a gym, not that it has to be your main gym. The problem is money. If you connect the old gym to the new school its counted as part of the new school and you lose funding in a number of important areas. Now if your smart and don't attach the gym to the school until later (after the schools been built) then you don't lose the funding. Is the Berkey a free standing building that doesn't have its own heat and air? If it isn't then it may be hard to keep it because it would have to have those utilites added (new furnace and airconditioner) and that may be cost prohibitive. In Orrville we kept part of our old school, gym included, and built a new free standing school that will be attached at a later date. To fix our old gym would have been with our money. Its not for certain which gym will be the Knight gym yet.

School board voted to keep the Berkey as the competition gym for high school sports.