Lady Charger Kelsey Doolittle pulls off a dig during the first game ever played in the new Boerne Champion gym. Photos by Mike Reeder

The Boerne Samuel V. Champion Charger volleyball team scored another first Aug. 26, as it became the first sports team to play and win an athletic contest in the new gym on the new high school campus.

The Lady Chargers, already the first Champion team to play and win a game under the new school banner, swept former district nemesis Fredericksburg 25-21, 25-23, 25-21.

“It makes me feel really proud to be here and set a good example for future teams to follow,” Sarah Artale said.

“It’s very exciting to be the first team,” Kelsey Doolittle agreed. “I love everything about the new gym; the court, the net, the poles, everything.”

“I’m glad we’re getting a lot of firsts,” Champion Coach Troy Errington said. “I hope we can be the first team to make the playoffs, but that’s a long way down the line.”

While the tense match with Fredericksburg held fans’ attention, the new gym was the real star of the night.

The glittering new facility embodies some of the latest advancements in gymnasium design, including basketball hoops that retract almost all the way to the high ceiling when not in use. The raised hoops in combination with far brighter lighting than the spectator gym on the old campus add to the spacious feel. At the same time, the acoustics amplify sound and create an intimate atmosphere that should work well for the home team. In other words, the building rocks with the crowd and is loud, loud, loud.

“I was telling my assistants it’s loud in here, and at that time the crowd wasn’t really yelling or screaming, either,” Errington said. “It’s just loud. We all agreed we’re going to have to talk a lot louder and be a lot more vocal. We had a big crowd for a Tuesday night and the fans really helped us out toward the end. It’s a great facility and I’m just glad we got to christen it.”

“It’s just right,” said Boerne Athletic Director and Men’s Basketball Coach Stan Leech. “The lighting and seating are so well done. It’s loud in here and that’s what you want. When the colleges and pros build facilities they want them to be intimate and this is. Everything’s just done perfect.”