Center Grove High School increases security at high school football games this year

GREENWOOD, Ind. – The Center Grove Community School Corporation is beefing up security measures this year at high school football games.

The move comes as numerous central Indiana schools in the past few years have dealt with increased violence during extracurricular activities.

As hundreds filed into Ray Skillman Stadium Friday night, they were greeted with new safety measures.

“This is something that’s not very uncommon. A lot of places we go also have these same procedures including a lot of the state championship venues,” said Joe Bronkella, the athletic director for Center Grove High School.

This year, fans are asked to use clear bags or small clutches at games.

The district said the new clear bag policy came after officials attended a conference and wanted to bring Center Grove up to par with what many other central Indiana schools and other sporting events are already doing.

“It’s always great to have a good plan in place so if we do have an emergency procedure occur with an evacuation or whatever may happen then we have the steps done and know exactly what to do and where to go,” said Bronkella.

In recent years, more high schools in central Indiana have tightened security measures for extracurricular activities and at school following a string of incidents at sporting and extracurricular events.

In 2021, there was a shooting at a Ben Davis football game . In December 2023, there was a shooting in the parking lot at Lawrence Central during a basketball game against Lawrence North.

“Nobody wants that. Ben Davis didn’t want it. Lawrence North didn’t want it,” said Center Grove HS fan Jake Stiles. “You can never be too safe, you have kids, you have opposing fans whether we’re going somewhere else, or they are coming to us any sort of safety measure is a good thing.”

And with food, family, and fun, as central to Friday night football itself, fans said keeping it that way is what’s most important.

“I feel bad for any time that there’s any sort of violence at a game so I would just prefer to take the safety measures and do what needs to be done,” said Center Grove HS Mother Norma Scifres.

For a full list of Center Grove’s security procedures, click here .

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