Pictured from left to right: Tammy Fraley, ACPS Board Member; Commissioner Dave Caporale; Lori Lepley, ACPS Board Member; Jeff Blank, Superintendent of Schools; Robert Farrell, ACPS Board President; Heidi Laupert, Allegany High School Principal; Dr. David Bohn, ACPS Board Member; Tracey Leonard, Supervisor of Health, Physical Education, and Athletics; Larry McKenzie, Chief Finance Officer; Jason Bennett, County Administrator; and Jay Marley, Supervisor of Maintenance and Construction

On June 6, a small event was held for the opening of the new field house at Allegany High School. The project provides an additional 6,000 square footage of space, including a football locker room, coach’s office, training room, team restroom and shower room, public restrooms, concessions, and a large storage room for football and track and field equipment.

“It is a work of art - a beautiful building to serve the Allegany Community,” says Robert Farrell, Allegany County Board of Education President. “It’s nice when the Board of Education and the County Government work together and make such a nice thing happen for the community. Well done.”

The addition was funded by grant money provided by Allegany County, as well as additional funds from the Allegany County Board of Education. It was designed by architect, Michael Gehr of Bushey Feight Moring Architects, the same group who designed the 2022 renovations to Greenway Stadium as well as the 2023 weight room construction at Mountain Ridge High School. Construction officially began in April of 2022, by Carl Belt Inc.

“We are always very pleased to see projects come to fruition at one of our County schools,” says Commissioner Dave Caporale. “Working as true partners with the School Board to get these types of things funded has really gone well, and we were all glad to be here today."

"As always, this is a perfect example of the high level of collaboration we have throughout our county,” says Superintendent of Schools, Jeffrey Blank. “From Jay Marley, for his expertise in design, to Heidi Laupert for her and her staff working so diligently to help things go smoothly, and to the County Administrators, who help support the needs of our students and community. Just a tremendous job all around.”

“Allegany High School is extremely excited to open and utilize our new field house, located on the Haystack Mountain Campus,” says Heidi Laupert, Principal at Allegany High School. “Equipped with a beautiful locker room to view film, a concession stand for use when we host events, and plenty of storage for athletic equipment, we are thankful to Mr. Jeff Blank and the ACPS Board Members for understanding the need for such a facility. Also, Mr. Jay Marley deserves thanks for overseeing the construction of the AHS Field House.The CAMPER coaches and student athletes are anxious to ‘get started’ over the summer and into the fall seasons.”

"First, I want to thank the Board of Education and our administration for all their hard work during this entire process on the field house,” says Head Football Coach for Allegany High School, Bryan Hansel. “I also want to thank Mr. Jay Marley for all of his efforts in planning and executing the plans. We are lucky to have an administration that supports ALL athletics and stresses the importance of athletics in Allegany. As a football program, we are very thankful and ecstatic to have such an amazing building to call home. I cannot stress enough the advantages this will give us as a program moving forward. We cannot wait to move into the field house and start to create a legacy in a new building at a new school. We are forever thankful to the Board of Education, Mr. Blank, and our administration. We CANNOT WAIT to move in."

“We are very appreciative of the work and effort from everyone that has made it possible to receive this generous gift of a field house,” says Tedd Eirich, AHS Athletic Director. “It will enhance the overall experience of all of our student-athletes here at Allegany. Special thanks to our Superintendent, Mr. Blank and also to Mr. Marley who have gone over and above their duties to make sure it was done correctly."