Crest Ridge High School looking to improve football facility

CENTERVIEW, Mo. — Just off of 50 Highway, surrounded by farmland in rural Johnson County, Missouri, is the heart of the Centerview community.

“We are definitely rocking and rolling every Friday night,” said Brittany Dresel, a parent to three students in the Crest Ridge School District.

However, those Friday night lights could look a lot different next year, now that the Crest Ridge Cougar’s beat out 1,700 other schools to be a finalist in T-Mobile’s national competition .

The school’s already won $30,000 and is competing for a multi-million-dollar prize, which includes a $100,000 high school grant, new tech scoreboard, upgraded weight room, epic tailgate celebration, and a professional consultation with football field experts.

Crest Ridge High School is one of 16 finalists in the country and the only school left in Kansas and Missouri. As of this writing, they sit in sixth place. T-Mobile selected the finalists based on greatest need and opportunity for impact.

When it comes to the current football field and track at Crest Ridge, Superintendent Heather Gross said safety is a big issue. Local farmers built the field in 1982, and it’s only been upgraded once since then. There’s a huge crown in the center that makes it not only tricky to see the players, but to actually play on as well.

“It not only affects my son now, but I have two younger kids who are going to play on this field too,” added Dresel, whose son is on the football team.

The field is also used on a consistent basis, with teams either competing or practicing on it six days a week.

Another issue is the gravel track, which is used by the men’s and women’s track team. Since it’s not regulation size or up to standard it’s impossible to host a track meet there. Not only that, but it also poses a safety issue to the cheer squad and athletes.

T-Mobile representatives hosted a tailgate party at Friday’s home game to help spread the word about the contest. They also threw a celebration that featured food, games, and a presentation of a $25,000 check.

Since the school doesn’t belong to any major city that’s affected its ability to make expensive improvements, which is why the prospect of a luxury makeover would be a dream come true.

“We are a very small district,” added Gross. “We don’t really have a town, so our revenues are limited in how we receive taxes. We’re able to do a lot with what we do receive, and we’re proud of that, but it is limited.”

Dresel added to that saying the football field is a huge piece of the community since it is made up of rural farm families.

“It would change their lives. It would truly change their lives. It just pulls on my heartstrings to know that we’re so close to be able to help them achieve something we normally wouldn’t be able to,” she said.

Crest Ridge High School can only win if they get the most likes on their Instagram video . When you open the Instagram app, search “Crest Ridge Cougar” and ‘like’ the first video that’s pinned on their page. The contest ends November 12.

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