Copley-Fairlawn district residents celebrate upgraded stadium as 'community showpiece'

Tuesday night was a time to celebrate in Copley Township.

After a 260-day sprint to finish construction of an overhaul of the Copley-Fairlawn School District's high school stadium , crews had reached the finish line.

"We started after the last home football game with the goal of being complete for our first football game this year," said Superintendent Aimee Kirsch .

Mission accomplished.

Hundreds of residents, district employees, students and parents came out to view the results, funded by a $50 million, 30-year levy to upgrade district schools and facilities at the high school and middle school.

"The kids are really excited about this," Kirsch said. "Yesterday, we had a welcome back for teachers and we did it right here."

Renovations to the high school are still being worked on, with completion expected later this year.

Football coach says Copley stadium overhaul will attract more district athletes

Head football coach John Kromalic echoed Kirsch's comments, saying that the new stadium should help with recruiting for the football team.

"That's the biggest piece," Kromalic said. "Getting kids to come out for sports."

More: Copley 2024 high school football schedule, preview

Copley eighth-grader Grant Conzaman, quarterback on the middle school team, said he was impressed with the stadium. His older sister, Callie Conzaman, sang the national anthem to help open the celebration.

"It looks really cool," Grant said. "The lockers are really nice. It will be fun winning in this new place."

The team squares off against Amherst Steele on Friday at 7 p.m. for its first test at the new facility.

'It's a community gathering place'

Jim Borchik, president of the district's board of education, offered a succinct appraisal of the stadium.

"This is cool," he said.

Borchik said the district was fortunate with favorable weather during construction, and a drop in steel prices helped with the effort.

Copley Township Trustee Scott Dressler said the stadium will be a cultural focus at Copley, bringing together all ages.

"You look at the American tradition of football," he said. "It's a community gathering place. Each generation — they all come to the games."

Resident says athletic upgrades complement Copley-Fairlawn academics

Residents who came to view the stadium liked what they saw.

Copley Township resident Gil Hart said two of his children have graduated, but his daughter will get to experience the new stadium experience as a member of the marching band.

"We wanted to see what's new," he said. "It's impressive; I like it."

Jon Enberg, also from the township, said his son is on the football and track teams.

"I think everybody's excited about it," he said. "It's a whole different experience."

Grant's parents, Steve and Shauna Conzaman, were also at the event.

"We're big fans of Copley athletics," Steve Conzaman said.

He said sports are important, but the district excels in academics.

"We moved here for the diversity and it's and excellent school," he said.

Copley Township resident kept tabs on stadium progress

Copley Township resident Brandon Jordan compared the old stadium facilities to other districts and said the Copley upgrade was overdue.

Jordan said he kept tabs on the stadium work as it progressed.

"I'm excited to see the fruits of that (investment)," he said. "I drive past it all the time."

His son graduated and is going to the U.S. Air Force Academy.

"He missed it by one year," Jordan said.

Like Kromalic, he sees a benefit in attracting and keeping athletes in the district.

"I think a facility like this may keep some of the talent in the community," he said.

'Sports can bring a community together'

Copley Township resident Monika Kirbawy, a runner, said she's hoping to test out the track in the near future.

She has two children in school in the district, and lives close enough to hear the marching band from her home.

"Sports can bring a community together," she said.

Kelly Weitzel, the district's coordinator of special education, said students have been talking about the stadium experience.

"This will be a great place to be a part of the student section," a student told her, Weitzel said.

"This is a showpiece," she said.

Leave a message for Alan Ashworth at 330-996-3859 or email him at aashworth@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @newsalanbeaconj or Facebook at www.facebook.com/alan.newsman.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Copley-Fairlawn district residents celebrate upgraded stadium as 'community showpiece'