Alumni play first game under Whitley Co. soccer field lights

The first game under the Whitley County soccer fields new lights was played by alumni who had returned for the lighting ceremony.

For the first time in the history of its program, the Whitley County School District soccer fields now have lights.

The lights were turned on last Friday during a field lighting ceremony.

“Just a couple years ago, they [board of education members] spoke to me about different facility needs, and I said, ‘One of the biggest – or the number one – need, facility-wise athletically, was to put lights on our soccer field.’ It is going to increase the number of kids that are going to be participating. It is going to allow our coaches to play JV games and host more games and just an all-around better atmosphere for playing soccer for our kids here in the Whitley County School District,” said Whitley County School District Superintendent John Siler.

“Here we are a couple of years later. They made it a priority and made this happen, so I definitely want to thank our Board of Education, our principals down at the high school.”

The honor of playing the first game under the lights was given to alumni who had returned for the ceremony.

Kelly Sawyers, the head coach for the women’s team, said she has been on the coaching staff since the program’s start in 2008.

“It has just been a slow process,” said Sawyers. “Everything has been a slow build up.”

Sawyers, who became head coach of the program in 2010, said, “I am almost speechless. I have seen the program come so far. I remember when we used to practice on the baseball field, and then we got moved to the middle school football field and then we got a complex. We got a place to call our home, which was really nice for our athletes. Everything just kept building. Our administration just kept showing interest in the program and wanted to give more.”

“The lights were on the agenda for a long time, and to see it finally happen, it is just amazing,” said Sawyers. “I think for the athletes, as a coach, for the community members, it is emotional to see these lights come on and see these kids under them.”