Edgewood (Ohio) head football coach Steve Channell stands in front of the main entrance of the 10,000-square-foot fieldhouse. (Dick Swaim photos) | ZOOM |

        TRENTON — Six years ago, Cougars head football coach Steve Channell sketched out his dream for a fieldhouse at Edgewood High School's Kumler Field.

        That rough legal pad drawing has turned into a 10,000-square-foot facility.

        The concrete building includes locker rooms with showers for home and visitors, a kitchenette, weight room, coaches offices, concession area, public restrooms and a meeting room.

        “I've been dreaming about this for six years,” Mr. Channell said. “I was told it couldn't be done with school monies. I was told by many it couldn't be accomplished, but we never let it deter us.”

Assistant coaches (from left) Brett Stubbs, Terry Schanke and Dave Cripe stand in the uncompleted new coaches office. | ZOOM |

        The $250,000 project was given a boost when Seven Mile High School graduate Dan Baker offered to donate materials and labor to build the basic structure. His company, Baker Concrete Construction Inc., which worked on the Bengals stadium and Cleveland's Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame — poured the floor foundation and built walls for the fieldhouse. Windows and doors also were donated and will be installed soon.

        “Our goal is to have it operational ... by Aug. 24, our first home game against Indian Hill,” Mr. Channell said. “We're under roof and we're dry now. I can't say when we'll be done. It's based solely on what we're able to get in goods, services and labor ... No taxpayer money is being used for this project.”

        Parent Tim Vennefron, who is volunteering as materials manager for the project, said bathroom fixtures, carpet, lockers, tables and 2-by-4's are needed to move forward. Parent volunteers built roof trusses and did most of the other interior work.

        Anyone who can donate time, materials, labor or money is asked to contact Mr. Channell at Edgewood High School, 867-7425, ext. 125.
       

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