As of next Monday, students and staff at OH are stepping into a new era of school pride with the completion of a renovated main gym floor designed with input from the entire OH community.
The replacement became necessary after severe water damage ruined the old floor and made it unusable. OH Athletic Director Daniel Arntzen said the project prioritized collaboration with students and staff.
“We wanted something that honors the history of the orange and blue court we had before,” Artzen said. “Student input was honestly the deciding factor.”
“We also made sure coaches and PE staff had their voices heard so the floor would meet everyone’s needs. Ultimately, the Big O in the center and the Panther graphics came from balancing tradition and community feedback,” Artzen said.
According to the OH athletic office, final steps are in-progress and the main gym should be unveiled next week, dependent on the curing process.
Due to the closure of the main gym, PE classes and athletics had to adjust during construction. OH senior Brady Travis felt the challenges as a PE leader.
“With the main gym being closed [since late August], my class had to use alternate locations,” Travis said. “The more classes in a single gym space, the more difficult it is to teach. Despite that, we were fortunate to have spaces like the field house and auxiliary gym.”
Travis added, “I’m very excited for the new gym floor and the main gym reopening. The previous floor had worn spots that made diving painful. Now it’s bright, safe, and clearly Oswego.”
Coaches also celebrated the new space. Nicholas Oraham, PE teacher and head boys basketball coach, said, “When I saw the new gym floor, it was exciting, something different, something more modern. It is brighter, which helps with the energy during practice.”
Students like that the gym floor still has the big “O” in the middle and the Panther head on the sides. The entire project truly shows that OH cares about students and staff.
Oraham said that logistics had required adjustments for teams. “We’ve modified our fall schedule to use the field house and aux gym. Girls’ volleyball is working with three teams on two courts, and freshmen are playing games in the field house,” he said.
“From a coach’s perspective, protecting our home floor and showing school pride are key priorities,” Oraham added.
Some of the changes may impact athletes’ use of the gym in this transition. “It’s gonna look a little bit bigger because we don’t have the bleachers on the side, so that’s going to take some time getting used to for the athletes’ depth perception,” Oraham explained.
The floor’s updated features include a non-slip coating to reduce injuries and two-tone graphics that celebrate OH colors and identity. Travis said the improvements make a difference for both PE lessons and athletics.
“It’s great to have a court that is safer for diving and other activities. The graphics are bright and really showcase OH. I can’t wait for our classes and teams to use it fully.”
Arntzen emphasized the community-centered approach as a defining aspect of the project. “We wanted the floor to look clean and professional from every angle, and the student vote confirmed that we got it right. This is a space for everyone at OH to enjoy.”
With construction complete, the gym floor reflects both tradition and modern design, offering a safe, functional, and pride-filled environment for OH students and staff alike.
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