On January 18, a celebration was held for the opening of the new addition to the stadium at Mountain Ridge High School. The project, known as the Arnone Building Addition, provided an additional 4,000 square footage of space, housing a weight training room, as well as men’s and women’s locker rooms.
“On behalf of the Board Members and myself, we were pleased to be able to help facilitate this project, one that will benefit so many of our students,” says Superintendent of Allegany County Public Schools, Jeffrey S. Blank. “We are taking time to carefully plan out renovations and updates within the county, and recognized this as an important need for these students.”
Ryan Patterson, Mountain Ridge High School Head Football coach recalls, “When I first heard that funding had been secured for a new state-of-the-art weight room on campus, I was naturally thrilled. As I watched the construction of the building through the summer and fall, I was thinking of the possibilities.” He continues “now that the project is complete, I have the realization that our strength and conditioning programs have endless possibilities at Mountain Ridge.”
The addition was designed by architect, Michael Gehr of Bushey Feight Moring Architects, the same group who designed the 2022 renovations to Greenway Stadium. Construction officially began in June of 2022, by Carl Belt Inc.
“On behalf of the staff, students, and community of Mountain Ridge, I want to thank the Superintendent and the Board of Education members for providing the guidance and funding for this much needed facility addition here at Mountain Ridge,” says Danny Carter, Principal at Mountain Ridge High School. “This addition of the locker rooms and weight training area will certainly support and enhance the athletic programs.”
“The addition of the locker room/weight room facility will be beneficial not only to all of our teams, but for visiting teams,” says Athletic Director David Hobel. Space will now be available for visiting teams to have a proper area for their entire team to meet before, during, and after games. Many school sports programs will be able to benefit from now having proper weight training and conditioning space.
“To see our student-athletes’ faces when they first walked into the facility was a pleasure,” says Patterson. “I am overwhelmed with the commitment that our board of education provides into all facets of the development of the kids in Allegany County. We are truly grateful.”
Pictured from left to right: Nick Shifflett, Mountain Ridge Wrestling Coach, Colten White, Mountain Ridge Wrestling Coach, Tracey Leonard, Supervisor of Health, Physical Education, and Athletics, Tristan Kimble, project manager, Carl Belt, Inc., Michael Gehr, project architect, BFM Architects, Jay Marley, Supervisor of Maintenance and Construction, Crystal Bender, ACPS Board Vice President, Danny Carter, Principal Mountain Ridge High School, Lori Lepley, ACPS Board Member, Jeffrey S. Blank, Superintendent, Dr. David Bohn, ACPS Board Member, Robert Farrell, ACPS Board President, Larry McKenzie, Chief Finance Officer, Dave Hobel, Mountain Ridge High School Athletic Director, and Ryan Patterson, Mountain Ridge High School Head Football Coach.
