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Parkersburg Catholic High School enjoys home field game

Last Saturday marked the beginning of some planned changes at Parkersburg Catholic High School.

The Crusaders played the high school’s first football game behind the Fairview Avenue school on Oct. 6 — a 46-6 win over Calhoun County to remain undefeated. Parkersburg Catholic junior high football teams have played games on the school’s field but not the varsity team until last Saturday afternoon, said Principal John Golebiewski.

The city of Parkersburg loaned PCHS four sets of bleachers from City Park, to go with some bleachers the school owned, for the 1 p.m. game. Architectural Interior Products donated a truck and manpower to transport the bleachers from City Park to Parkersburg Catholic High School and back again.

Greenleaf Landscapes worked on getting the football field in playable shape.

Many people and organizations worked together to make Catholic’s first true home game possible, said Golebiewski. He compared the school and community’s effort to the work done by volunteers to create Parkersburg South High School’s Erickson All-Sports Facility.

Golebiewski was an assistant principal at Parkersburg South High School before becoming Parkersburg Catholic High School’s principal this year.

Golebiewski said he and Crusaders head football coach Lance Binegar discussed the positives associated with the home field project. The school opened along Fairview Avenue in the 1950s.

Parkersburg Mayor Tom Joyce, a 1992 graduate of Parkersburg Catholic High School, where he played football and wrestled, said it was great for the school to have its own football field. He was excited for the football team to play a game at Parkersburg Catholic.

Golebiewski hopes to have another high school football game at Crusader Field next year and all home games there by 2022-2023 at the latest.

To create a permanent Crusader Field, Golebiewski said, the property must be leveled at the school side of the field that slopes away.

The opposite side of the field, where the bleachers are located, has a nearby hillside.

A reconfiguration of the field may be necessary for the best use of the property, he said.

There was plenty of seating for the Calhoun County game but additional bleachers would be needed for a game against county rival Williamstown High School, Golebiewski said.

The campus site has been used as a practice football field. Hamilton Middle School allowed the PCHS football team to practice on its field while Crusader Field was being prepared for its first varsity game, Golebiewski noted.

Golebiewski saw the home game as a way to “energize the school, fan base and community.” A football field would make Parkersburg Catholic High more visible to the community as stadiums at Parkersburg South and Parkersburg high schools have done, he said.

A blue and white tailgate celebration was held on the Friday night before the Saturday game in the school’s parking lot. The pep rally featured a bonfire, children’s games, cornhole, food trucks and music.

The tailgate event was a good thing for Parkersburg Catholic High School as it brought people together, Golebiewski said. Alumni attended the pep rally and game.

Friday night’s football game returned to Parkersburg Catholic’s usual football site at Parkersburg High School’s Stadium Field. The last two regular season football games are on the road.

Parkersburg Catholic High School also has a goal of raising $100,000 for a new basketball court floor. Plans call for a new Crusader Court to be installed next year.

Contributions can be made at a GoFundMe Crusader Court Campaign.

School officials and others are in the early stages of discussing a “facelift” and “rebranding” for Parkersburg Catholic High, Golebiewski said. This would give the school a “fresh look,” he said.

The campaign would highlight what it means to be a Crusader, he said.

Contact Paul LaPann at plapann@newsandsentinel.com

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