It’s the air conditioning in the new multipurpose buildings that seems to excite student athletes in Lawton Public Schools the most.
Lawton Public Schools officials cut the ribbons at the new 6,600-square-foot buildings Monday. Each facility houses six locker rooms, a training room, an office, public restrooms and a concession area. The buildings, which were built at Lawton’s three high schools, are primarily for female athletes, since some of those sports did not have dedicated locker rooms. Construction started in spring 2024 and was completed this month.
“Our young ladies deserve better dressing facilities than what they had,” said Superintendent Kevin Hime. “We are adding six locker rooms to improve the quality and quantity of the locker rooms in Lawton Public Schools.”
Hime said the student athletes should start moving into their new space later this week.
Monday was the first time the athletes and coaches had seen the inside of the buildings, and they seemed to be impressed with what they saw.
“It’s very clean and bright and spacious. I can’t wait to use it. The AC is really nice,” Rachael Beydler, who plays soccer and runs cross-country at Eisenhower High School, said as she inspected one of the locker rooms. She said now female athletes all share a public restroom to dress for games.
Some of the Eisenhower athletes were already making plans to decorate their new space.
Erin Biegler, who plays soccer and tennis and is on the swim team at Lawton High, also was impressed with the locker rooms.
“It matches our mascot,” she said of the wolverines on the seat cushions. But what she liked best was that the room was cold.
Although Kaydence White, who plays softball at MacArthur High School, won’t get to use the new building, she still was proud.
“I think it’s great,” she said as she took a tour Monday.
Student athletes weren’t the only ones itching to move in. Bryan Young, assistant girls soccer coach at Lawton High, also was looking forward to using the new facility.
“I can’t wait,” he said. Young said it would be nice to have a central point away from the school so he and the athletes can concentrate better. He also was looking forward to having a shorter trip to the field to carry his equipment. He said he planned to start moving in as soon as possible.
LHS athletic trainer David Stanley also was looking forward to a shorter trek to haul his equipment.
“It’s nice to be close to the field,” Stanley said. “I won’t have to load up the trailer and unload it. I hope the kids appreciate what they have.”
Hime said the new facilities are part of an overall plan to upgrade athletic facilities across the district. Previously, the district has redone playing fields at the secondary schools, including installing bleachers and press boxes at the high school football fields. Plans are being made to add bleachers for visitors this fall and to play some home varsity football games at each high school.