PREP ATHLETICS: For Fort Knox, every home is a home away from home (08/12)

By JOSH CLAYWELL jclaywell@thenewsenterprise.com FORT KNOX — Jackie Prather and the Fort Knox High School volleyball team got a taste of life on the road following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in 2001. But that was nothing compared to this season as the Lady Eagles will likely play every match on the road due to ongoing construction and renovations at the high school. “I think that will be a real challenge,” Prather said. “When 9/11 happened, we had to play the rest of the season on the road. When we came back on post from games we had to have everything checked and get the kids off the bus so they could search everything.” The volleyball team isn’t the only team affected. The boys’ and girls’ basketball teams along with the wrestling team had to schedule home games and matches later in the season in case there were any delays in construction. “I normally try to get my first match at home,” Fort Knox wrestling coach Jarvis Cullen said. “But I won’t have my first match at home until well after mid-December.” The basketball teams won’t have to wait near as long, with a girl-boy doubleheader scheduled for Dec. 6 against visiting Cumberland County. But, Prather said, the first home basketball game could get pushed back if the renovations aren’t complete by the October target date. “It’s going to make it a long season, that’s for sure,” said first-year boys’ basketball coach Kip Rambo. “It’s tough on the kids and it makes it harder to prepare.” And while each coach said they weren’t looking forward to life on the road, they are looking forward to seeing the new gymnasium complete in the coming months. “There is a drawing of it, and it’s pretty darn neat,” Rambo said. “It’s still going to be a small-school gym, it’s just going to look really different. There will be some real neat things about it. I’m excited about it.” Until construction is finished, the volleyball team will practice at Pierce Elementary School, while the basketball teams and wrestling team will likely practice at Scott Middle School on post. Cullen said the wrestling team used to practice in the audio-visual room at the high school, but that room won’t be used until construction is finished. That’s a small price to pay, according to Cullen. “I’m excited to see how the new gym looks,” he said. “We’ve been ready for a new gym now for years. We’re way overdue for a new gym anyway. I’m excited to see how it comes out.” The project will connect the gym and library with the vocational center on campus. The current school will be demolished when the new two-story building is complete in August 2009. “I think it’ll be real exciting,” Prather said. “The kids are looking forward to a new school. It’ll be exciting to open next season with a nice, new facility.” Josh Claywell can be reached at 505-1752