Highlighted by the opening of the new soccer/football stadium and ribbon-cutting ceremonies to honor long time soccer coach David Stanton, host Chattanooga Christian opens the 2013 season tonight against cross-town rival Girls Preparatory School at 7 p.m.
In an excellent season opener at David Stanton Field, these two teams went deep in the playoffs a year ago; CCS reached the TSSAA Class A semifinals in 2012, while GPS was state runner-up in D-II. The Bruisers edged CCS, 3-1, a year ago in a regular season contest..
CCS Football Opener: Fri. Aug 30, the CCS football team will have its first home game in the new stadium (vs. Lookout Valley) and football coach Barry Loyal will cut the gold and blue ribbons that night, signifying a new era of CCS football.
Alumni Games: Several former players from CCS boys soccer (Wednesday) and football (Thursday) participated in informal "first games" last week on the new all-weather turf.
"We are excited about our new soccer/football stadium as it was completed in 82 days," said CCS president Chad Dirkse. "The new stadium has 3,000 seats compared to 700 on the old field.
"We want this to be a community facility and for all our students. We have students using the new field during seven periods of physical education nearly every day of the week."
Fitness Center: CCS has plans to complete a state-of-the-art fitness center (including locker rooms and weight room) adjacent to the soccer/football stadium by the end of the school year.
Baseball-Softball: "We also are working to install lights on the baseball field for the upcoming season so we can have home night contests in baseball, softball and boys soccer all at the same time," Dirkse stated. "Having three sporting events played simultaneously on campus would create a great atmosphere for our student-athletes and our community."
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net