Improvements are adding polish to Greenbrier

With the Monday opening of Grovetown High School, Greenbrier High no longer is the county's newest high school. But with all the athletics projects it has in the works, the school will have a new feel in many areas.

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The most recent project is a new facility under construction that will serve as a practice area for the wrestling and cheerleading squads. The concrete foundation was poured last week and Greenbrier athletic director Garrett Black said construction should be completed soon.

The building adjoins the baseball team's hitting facility behind the school.

Black said the building would give the teams a consistent practice area. Before, the wrestling and cheerleading teams practiced wherever there was space, usually in the hallways or mall area.

"They're real excited," Black said. "It's something that we've needed."

During the fall, the Wolfpack's gym is occupied by the varsity and junior varsity volleyball teams.

The cheerleading squad has used the mall halls, the cafeteria, Greenbrier Middle and Patriots Park in the past. The wrestling team, which uses large mats, had fewer options.

Black noted that Greenbrier lacked a commons area that other county schools use for cheerleading and wrestling.

Funding for the building came from money raised through the school's athletic foundation, Black said.

"I just think we have a great group of parents who have been very instrumental in making this happen, as well as our athletic foundation members," he said.

In addition to the new building, the school also is putting the final touches on its new-look gym. The county approved funds for new paint, a new floor and new bleachers.

The floor has been laid and the bleachers were installed last week.

"We'll be ready to go -- brand new everything," Wolfpack girls basketball coach Dana Bull said in July. "It's a fresh new feel for the program."

The floor features layers of material between the wood and concrete floor to give players more cushion. Coaches said the previous floor had little give and was hard on players' knees.

"We're just thanking our lucky stars we got it," boys basketball coach Casey Heckathorn said.

Among the other projects in the works is a walkway leading from the football stadium to the area in front of the gym. At the end of the walkway will be a "victory bell," Black said.

Black also recently placed signs along the entrance to the school, recognizing the school's state champion baseball teams.

With all that's been done, Black said there is always more that can be added when the wrestling and cheer facility is completed.

"We're just taking it one step at a time," he said.

"As soon as this is complete, we'll probably go to our next item on the checklist."