Summer maintenance underway at Ireton

The spring season has just ended, but there's no time to waste when it comes to athletic facilities with summer camps, open fields and gyms, and high demand for athletic resources at Bishop Ireton, according to athletic director Bill Simmons.  "We have a small window of opportunity to do annual preventive maintenance on our facilities, there are a lot of little repairs necessary on the field, track, gym, and workout areas" said the second year athletic director.  "Cleaning bleachers, repairing weight training equipment, fixing tents; it can fill up two days for the maintenance staff," added chief engineer John Dickman.  "There are so many events that we host in addition to the regular games and so forth, we really don't have much time and there is a surprising amount of maintenance and repairs that need to be done."

Annual maintenance on the Father Godley Gym began Tuesday with sanding of the floor, with multiple coats of fresh finish to follow. Add the curing time into the schedule and it will be out of use for a week.  Fannon Field will have loose seams glued, thorough cleaning of the turf and track will follow and soon after the familiar white lines of football will make their annual return.  The bleachers will see a cleaning, burned out scoreboard lights replaced, batting cage inspected, and fitness center equipment repaired and replaced.  Sound systems are checked and uniforms inventoried and stored for the summer. Orders for new items have been long submitted, but the deliveries come at all times during the summer months. Scheduling to accomodate daily physical education classes is part of the process as well.  "This weather isn't cooperating right now, but with the turf, we use every second it isn't raining and fill the fitness center and weight room with classes." said physical education teacher and varsity coach Kathy Gutmann. "We planned months in advance for this week with the athletic department."

"It is a busier time than you might expect, but the summer camp season begins in just a couple of weeks. "Those are some of our potential Cardinals" Simmons commented. "We want to start out on the right foot with our campers and roll right into the new school year ready to go! It's a fun time, but a busy time in the summer!"  While much of the effort will be handled by resident staff, Weyer Floor Service of Odenton, Maryland, has started the gym floor refinishing already. Company officials suggest Tuesday evening, June 2nd,  Ireton will be ready to return to business in the gym, not a moment too soon for basketball coaches Mike Hutton and newly hired Neil Berkman.  Area high schools typically participate in summer league basketball, and early June workouts are the only preparation the Cardinals receive prior to the beginning of league play.