GOOD HOPE – Excitement filled the air Tuesday afternoon with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to christen a brand new and newly painted hardwood floor at Good Hope Gymnasium.
The festivities took place 90 minutes before the first volleyball match of the 2016 season was held between Good Hope and Holly Pond in junior varsity, followed by the Lady Raiders and Lady Broncos going to battle at 5:20 p.m.
Principal John Hood coordinated the ribbon-cutting event, being joined by assistant principal Amy Speegle. Both are in their first year at Good Hope High School.
Good Hope Mayor Jerry Bartlett and City Councilman Maxie Jones were on hand plus Cullman County Schools Superintendent Shane Barnette, former Good Hope volleyball coach Rosemary Brown, new volleyball coach Samantha Bryson and new varsity basketball coaches Drew Adams and Amanda Swann.
Student-athletes in volleyball and basketball joined in the festivities to see something now became a reality with a brand new floor at the facility, which opened in the fall of 1971.
"I think it looks great," Bartlett said after Hood cut the ribbon. "I love what the school has done with it. It's going to be preserved for a very long time."
The project started right after Hood became the new principal at Good Hope at the end of the 2015-16 school year.
"I am excited for the kids," Hood said. "This is what the floor is for. It's going to be great for them to play on, something as special as it is. We've got young coaches that are excited about having the opportunity, plus our seniors as well."
The Good Hope City Council donated $3,000 to support the project with the rest of the money raised by local funding, Barnette said.
Those making large contributions have their names placed at different locations across the gymnasium floor. They are Pepsi Cola, Cindy Myrex Real Estate, Premier Bank, The Final Touch, The City of Good Hope, Mitch Smith Chevrolet, Harris Steel and Chick-Fil-A.
"This is something Mr. Hood has wanted since the day they hired him here at Good Hope School," Barnette added. "The kids will take ownership and maintain it. It helps our whole system. It helps us all."
Good Hope is the latest county school in recent years to have a new coat of paint put to its gymnasium floor. The pride of the folks at Good Hope right now is what has been experienced in recent years with repainted floors at Cold Springs, West Point, Fairview and Holly Pond.
With the floor officially open for athletics, the school is taking full advantage. The volleyball team will have a tri-match in the varsity and junior varsity Thursday against Vinemont and Cold Springs at 4 p.m.
A fundraiser with the tip-off club will be held Saturday, a 3-on-3 basketball tournament for middle school, high school and adults. The competition will begin at 8:30 a.m. for the middle school, 9:30 a.m. for the high school and 10:30 for the adult division.
For more information on the 3-on-3 tournament, call 256-338-6024.
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