St. Luke School holds ceremony for new home field

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) — St. Luke School hosted a blessing ceremony for their new multi-purpose field Tuesday morning.

St. Luke is a Christ-centered school that serves Junior Kindergarten through Eighth grade students.

The ceremony consisted of students, donors and members of the community gathered on Martin Field for a prayer and official opening of the Lions home field.

St. Luke School’s says prior to this field, student athletes would have to travel to local fields to practice and compete in their sports.

The new home field has taken years to complete and would not have been possible without using school tuition funds, but donations from the community and JoRhee Pezold and her parents’ life savings.

“Nobody knew I had my parent’s life savings,” says Pezold. “It’s a blessing that I had been praying for five years to use my parents’ life savings as their only child.”

Pezold says her son in law presented the opportunity to donate to the vision of the field and she knew that this project was how the money should be used.

“There were opportunities that I had before…and there was one that almost happened. But God shut it down.”

JoRhee Pezold, Donor to New Home Field at St. Luke Schools

Pezold says her son in law presented the opportunity to donate to the vision of the field. She says this is the best investment her family has made in their life.

“It’s a gift that keeps on giving,” says Pezold.

Sherry Bunn, the Athletic Director and Dean of Students explained that the field will not only be used for athletic students, but for students who are not eligible to participate in sports yet. She says the field can be used for physical education and other out of classroom activities.

“I hope they remember and make many memories on it and take that with them when they leave St. Luke.”

Sherry Bunn, Athletic Director and Dean of Students at St. Luke School

Kendall Harper has been a St. Luke softball coach for three years. She says the new field is a blessing.

“I want them to grow in the sport.” Says Harper. “We want a winning season. I am just blessed, so blessed to be a part of a school like this, that they see what athletics can do for our girls and for anybody that plays here.”

Harper told News 3 she hopes the new field leads her team and visiting athletes closer to God.

“I tell them all the time…if we’re not becoming better people at the end of it, then this is all for nothing.”

WRBL had the opportunity to speak to eighth grade student athletes about the new field.

“It feels really good. I’m just happy that we have a new field and that it’s our field,” says Louise Gudger, an eighth-grade softball and basketball player.

Gudger hopes this new season of sports grows the team in their faith and athletic talents.

Christian Terry, eighth grade football, basketball and soccer player told News 3 the new field is a blessing.

“It feels great,” says Terry. “I hope it will make me a better athlete.”

Henry Adams an eighth-grade football, basketball and soccer player says, “It’s awesome. I was excited when they announced it, and it was nice to have a full field to actually play on.”

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.