The Wolverines of Windermere High School are set to inaugurate their brand-new on-campus stadium in a spectacle of local sports spirit that coincides with their homecoming game. Aerial images by FOX 35 Orlando showed off the nearly completed structure on the school grounds, prompting confirmation from district officials that final inspections are on the agenda for the upcoming week.
The school's principal, Andrew Leftakis, has been vocal in his enthusiasm, telling parents, "I know we are eager to open this new era of Windermere Athletics. This information follows a series of setbacks that pushed the initial opening from September 13 to September 27, marred slightly by concession stand and announcer booth completions and necessary inspections, as reported by My News 13.
Despite any hitches in the plan, local sentiment remains charged with excitement. Kirstine Briggs, the president of Windermere High School’s Athletic Boosters and parent of a senior, as detailed by My News 13, "This is just a hurdle, a hiccup, and it’s to be expected," she said. "And I think we’re just way too thrilled to even look back. We’re ready to look forward." The sentiment encapsulates the community's stance as they prepare to rally behind the school's various sports teams, which will utilize the new multi-purpose field.
Lest we forget, before their shiny new stadium, Windermere High athletes practiced and played at Deputy Scott Pine Community Park, a mile off-campus with a variety of safety concerns. These ranged from inadequate shelter during inclement weather to a lack of parking spaces, compelling parents and officials to push for an on-campus solution. According to a My News 13 interview with Briggs, "A lot of them didn’t want to take the bus, so they would come, and the parents would drop them off, out on the road," Briggs said. "They would hop out, run across, so it was a huge safety issue." Orange County Commissioner Nicole Wilson also stepped in to expedite the process after hearing from concerned parents and law enforcement.
As the final details are sorted out, excitement is building for next Friday's event at home. Orange County and Windermere High officials and the community are ready to start this new era of athletics right where Wolverine pride is strongest.
