Swan Song For This Blog

Swan Song For This Blog
March 30, 2011

This will be a wrap-up posting of the Construction Blog since construction of the athletic fields is pretty much completed with just a few features to be added in the coming year (funds permitting). The ball field is a volunteer miracle—look for a link to its progress in “Panda Press Weekly.” The link will give an up-date on improvements to the field as well as the ongoing adventure of NDA’s fastball team (off to a promising start at this posting). Added here is a photo of a few fastball players practicing in the bull pen/batting cage (a puzzle to the Muses, as past readers will recall)—a nice parting shot and reminder of how thorough the plans of the volunteer team are.

The other photo was taken of the soccer field covered in, yes, snow on the morning of March 27th. This shot is not from the swan’s fly-over, but from the school’s third floor roof. Of course, what caught blogger’s eye was the clear outline of the NDA (which, it is hoped, you can make out) in the middle of the field. Predictably, the snow melted completely—well almost—by late morning when the first of several teams showed up to do tournament battle that day. What is still to be realized in this area is the required surface on the track so that our track team can practice on home territory. Blogger’s understanding is that a few field features will be added to the D zones. Indeed, an on-going saga on a once soggy scape.

With these last few notes of blogger’s swan song, she bids you a fond farewell, dear Readers. Thank you for your indulgence in reading of these pages (around 100 in type). It’s been fun for blogger and very instructive. God bless your every endeavor, and be sure to check in on NDA’s Heritage blog occasionally. Perhaps someday the history of the school’s athletic pursuits will appear there.
For now, aurevois.

Not Out to the Ballgame Just Yet #1

Long winter--long time since the last blog. Blogger's apologies: it's just a bit daunting to head out with camera in one hand and umbrella or snow shovel in the other. But now that the earth is nearing its spring equinox in its journey around the sun, we see this orb a bit more than in the previous months.

Now down to business: here's what's happening on the ball field. The empty dugout is filled with gravel, then a final layer of concrete. At last! Even the bull pen gets a nice little front apron. The pen has been used already by one of the "Construction Team" members who tried out the space with his daughter one afternoon, giving her a workout. Since no reconstruction of the pen has taken place since that event, the daughter and the pen must have passed muster. The fitting test of the caged pudding. Be sure to read/view the blog below--#2.

Not Out to the Ballgame Just Yet #2

Do you see this hill? This is the hill of dreams at the northwest corner of the field of dreams. It has gone through a number of "outfits" since 2005, to say the least. But then the whole place has slowly transformed since then. Now lets take a look at the plan for the hill and field. Pretty snappy, isn't it. The #12 (the pinkish) that you see in the upper left is the hill, and you can see the "dream" for it in the photo with the plan text. Some senior folk may remember that roughly where the student entrance to the school is today there used to be a Lourdes grotto much frequented by the Sisters, especially in good weather. The future too holds a shrine to Mary somewhat to the east of the original one.
Fast ball teams will be able to make a visit before and after their games. Won't that be cool! Of course, all hinges on $ and lots of determination on the part of the Team. We can be assured of the latter. A sort of caveat is in order here as anyone who has built will tell you: plans do change. If you had seen the originals of the additions made in the past 20 years and compare them with what we have today you would be quite assured of that. (The originals of the 1963 building are fascinating on that score.)

The coiled hose reminds us that there's much work to be done to realize the dreams for the site. Good (ongoing) job, Construction Team!

And The Score Is...

5 to 0 favor the Pandas, of course. What a lovely score board, the best we’ve seen since 1996 (gym). Let's turn from gazing at the board, go up the new steps along side the concession building (nifty steps) and get some…hmmm…guess we’ll have to wait a little longer here. But did you notice the new concrete walk and even a curb? Things are really moving right along. Maybe we can even use the facilities soon. The plumber’s truck does raise hopes. The temporary facility, handy though it has been, leaves a bit of home to be desired; do you agree?

Next time we’ll move up to the softball field to take in the advances there—another big story!

To Even The Score

So the soccer field will soon have a score board. Will the softball field pale on this point? (Did you say "point"?) By no means. As we have watched the competition at the north and east ends of the campus, we've noted extraordinary progress ends. We're confident that this will be a win-win game--ongoing-- to wit, many win-win games.
But lets look at the progress made on both fields recently. Soccer field and soft ball field--verticals in place for the respective score boards. Sbf.--concrete poured for dug-out, and advance work on the bullpen/batting cage. Sprinklers working most days to encourage newly sown grass seek give evidence that the field itself is getting its share of attention. The concession/lavatories building stands between the two fields almost ready to serve the fans of both sports. Oh, happy day when all will be completed.

From Hotdogs to Bullpens

So the Muses hover over the athletic fields in awe, out of their realm, and pondering what all this activity means. The blog of Aug. 27 showed the concession stand/lavatory facility well underway, and of course, it has moved forward since then. The Muses don’t read blogs (although this blogger wonders sometimes who is reading over her shoulder), nor do they don’t have the savy that we mortals have—theirs is of a different sort (see the blogs on the theater construction back in the summer/fall of 2008 when the Muses stirred the air with their excitement). They do know what bricks and mortar are, and so they share some anticipation.
The softball field scene is a complete mystery to the Muses, however. The digging of a dug-out (well, what else could you call it, they wonder) and the measuring of the bullpen/batting cage (what will these mortals think of next? Bulls will be batting?) will reveal their purposes only gradually. Blogger will have to arrange a meeting with Ms. Gunning to instruct our ghostly friends. Blogger, too, could use some instruction, as Ms. Gunning knows well.

The Dream Shared 1

The following photos give you a sequential (I hope) view of the progress of the last major feature of the soccer field. Of course, a score board will be nice (and coming), too.

The Dream Shared 2

AT LAST! The soccer field is complete and the field house is well on the way as the photos will show.

The man shown with a camera is Bob Stevens at the Dedication of the Sports Complex on Saturday, August 21, 2010. Bob is a very significant person since he, as you may know, was the original impetus behind the construction of the field once the planning of new construction got under way about six years ago. His daughter graduated too soon to enjoy the use of the field, but Bob’s enthusiasm and involvement continued. The benches you see on the convent hill were placed there by him so that the Sisters at the Heights could come out and enjoy the games, too. Enthusiasm + generosity = a winning game! Thanks, Bob!

The three blog entries below tell the Dedication story.

Here's What It Looked Like On August 14, 2010

Dedication Celebration

After construction comes dedication—YES. In the blog below is the address giving the history of soccer at N.D.A.. Greg Johnson , the man in the yellow shirt, standing on the platform above Sr. Mary Shauna, read the address, while cameras clicked all around. The “Kentucky Life” section of Sunday’s ENQUIRER (Aug. 22, 2010) has a very nice spread on the front page, by the way. Photos here include the new marching band getting assembled, Sr. M. Shauna in front of the scaffold platform, the 2004 Panda soccer state champs, and the line up of coaches through the years, from right to left. They are named and honored in the address below.

Address Given At Dedication

History of Soccer at Notre Dame Academy

In 1976, Paul Tipton and Ron Staurovsky developed a recreational soccer league for girls and boys, played at the fields of Villa Madonna Academy. The league was such a great success that in the following year, two separate leagues were formed; a Villa Hills league directed by Ron Staurovsky and a Park Hills league directed by Paul Tipton.

In 1978 - after 2 years of recreational play – four area high schools formed interscholastic teams.
Villa Madonna, Dixie Heights, Scott and Notre Dame Academy!!!

Thirty-four student athletes attended the first NDA soccer practice, thirty-two years ago. The enthusiastic turnout made it necessary to form two teams, appropriately named, the Blue and Gold teams.

Here, with us today, is the Pioneer of Northern Kentucky Soccer and Notre Dame Academy’s first coach of the Blue team - Coach Paul Tipton!!!!… Paul coached 5 years and compiled a record of 21-11-1. In 1982, Paul entered the Pandas in the State Soccer Tournament. However, only one State Soccer Tournament existed and all participating schools were boys’ teams. The state accepted the offer to allow NDA to participate, but the Pandas later withdrew, in order to ensure the safety of its players.

Paul’s wife, Alvera, was instrumental in forming the NDA Athletic Boosters organization and was named its first secretary. Because of their wonderful contributions to the athletic program, both Paul and Alvera are inductees of Notre Dame Academy’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Thank you, Paul Tipton.****

Next, we are pleased to welcome the first coach of the 1978 NDA Gold team – Coach Sarah Kelsch-Good! Sarah’s first team recorded 4 wins and 6 losses. In 1979, Sarah assisted Paul Tipton with the Blue team and together they compiled a season record of 5-1-1. Not only did Sarah coach soccer for two years, she also coached volleyball, cross-country, basketball and softball, while teaching 8 years at NDA. Sarah was inducted into Notre Dame Academy’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1992, and with her coaching versatility, it should come as no surprise! Thank you Coach Good!****

The third coach in NDA’s program is - Coach Bob Fincken! In his solo year with the Pandas, Bob coached the 1979 Gold team to a 2-2 record. Bob Fincken ****

A big welcome to Pandas coach– Art Eder! Art coached two spring seasons with Paul Tipton and one fall soccer season. In 1982, Art’s team recorded an undefeated season of 6-0! After two years with the Pandas, Art compiled a career record of 9-6. ***** Let’s hear it for Coach Eder!

Please welcome NDA’s fifth varsity coach – Coach Chuck Long! Chuck coached the Pandas from 1982-1985 and his team only lost one game to another Kentucky team. In Chuck’s four-year tenure he compiled a 62-22-2 career record! Chuck was diagnosed with cancer during his years at NDA and states his players were instrumental in helping him fight his battle with cancer. In 2007, Chuck was inducted into the Northern Kentucky Soccer Hall of Fame for his contributions as a high school coach at Notre Dame Academy and Simon Kenton. In addition, Chuck founded the Girls Olympic Development Program in Kentucky, the Girls High School Soccerama, and was Co-founder of the Independence Soccer Club! ***** Thank you Coach Chuck Long

Following Coach Long in the line up of NDA coaches is Coach Mike Wolf! Mike coached 7 seasons for the Pandas from 1986-1992, compiling a career record of 99-51-11! Mike’s teams, like those preceding him, practiced on the field that we now use as our softball field. In 1992, Coach Wolf’s illustrious career was most noted for having the opportunity to coach the first NDA team in a Kentucky High School State Tournament!!!....Twenty years after the first Boys Soccer State Championship! Coach Wolf’s team won 4 games en-route to the state championship finals, including a regional title win over Scott, in a shoot out. Coach Wolf’s team was on a winning streak holding opponents to zero goals, as they approached the championship finals. The finals however were postponed several weeks due to snow, yet, the game finally took place on a very cold night in late November. Ten minutes into the second half, Lexington Lafayette scored on a perfectly placed corner kick. Despite out-shooting Lafayette 23-5, the Pandas fell short of winning the very first girls KY State Soccer Championship in a 1-0 loss. Awesome job, Coach Mike Wolf

Please welcome NDA’s seventh varsity coach: Coach Tim Prieshoff!
Tim has the longest tenure of all soccer coaches at NDA, beginning with 7 seasons as Coach Wolf’s assistant and moving to the varsity position, from 1993-2003. Tim compiled a career record of 177-53-9. Tim’s teams practiced at the rather small field on campus, but as numbers grew and play quickened, it became tougher to keep the competitive edge with other schools practicing on regulation fields. As a result, Tim moved his practice site to Marydale, Pioneer Park, and then to the front of the Sanitation District building. Home games were played at Boone Woods and Central Park. For many years, Boone County High School was gracious in allowing NDA to host a home game under the lights, for our senior nights. During Tim’s tenure, the addition of a freshman program was included, allowing 20 more players to experience the thrill of playing high school soccer. Tim was also instrumental in recruiting former players to assist in coaching the Panda teams. Some of the most notable are Kerrie Schmidt-Kramer, Julie Roesel-Belton,
Lisa Metz-Warner and our present coach Sara Raaker-McSorley. Tim’s teams won 7 district titles; 5 regional titles (including 3 consecutive titles in 1997, 98, 99); 4 sectional titles and 2 state runner-up titles in 1997 and 1999! ****** Thank you Coach Tim Prieshoff!

Let’s have a big Pandas “How do you feel” welcome for our 1997 graduate and our current head coach Sara Raaker-McSorley! Sara began her coaching career in style, celebrating her 25th birthday, with a semi-final win and a berth to play in the KY State Championship Finals. The Pandas became the first Northern Kentucky team (for both boys and girls) to win a soccer state championship! To date, Coach Raaker-McSorley’s teams have compiled 6 district titles, 3 regional titles, 3 sectional titles, a 2009 state runner up title and a 2004 state championship! Twenty-five of Sara’s former players have continued their soccer career in college. Sara’s teams, like those who preceded her, found it a daily challenge to secure a consistent home practice field. Practices were held at a variety of locations – Mills Road Park, CCH, Thomas More, Turpin, Anderson, and even in a meadow at Marydale, alongside Houston Road. (where Bob Stevens mowed the grass for the team every Sunday evening). High school and select soccer continued to grow in numbers. It became more and more difficult to find options for both practice and home games. During the last 2 years, Xavier University became home to the Pandas, for practice and home games. NDA is most grateful to Kevin Molony and Town and Country, who generously provided field time to the Pandas throughout the 10 years. So, not only does Coach Raaker-McSorely have the first state championship, Sara will also be remembered as becoming the first NDA coach to actually have a true home field advantage!!
Congratulations and a big thanks Coach Raaker-McSorley!

In closing, the Notre Dame Academy community would like to thank all of these wonderful coaches and our friends and supporters, who have made this Field of Dreams possible. Let’s give a final salute to our NDA coaches here today. They have dedicated their time and service to NDA, and have been instrumental in making our soccer program one of the best in the state! We are eternally grateful for your commitment to the program and know that we expect to see you back in the stands each and every home game!!! God Bless you.

West Of The Field Of Dreams

March Updates (3/25/10)

The soccer field has been tested and proven true by several games of the King Tournament a few weeks ago. That NDA has opened the field first to the tournament is due to an agreement with Town and Country Sports and Health Club of Wilder. They allowed our soccer team to use their field for practice for several years, so an opportunity to repay their generosity was welcomed. Our students have begun to practice lacrosse, giving us a chance to find out what the game is all about.

The field itself? Temporary fencing is still at each end, however, the D zones have been seeded, and a tall fence skirts the track at the east end above the steep slope to yards on St. Joseph Lane. Other signs of progress: aluminum bleachers are positioned on either side of the field, and portable toilets are now available. The next big step will be a field house that will have rest rooms (won’t that be nice!) as well as concessions.

All of the surrounding slopes have been seeded. It is to be noted for those who don’t get to actually see the field that it is not at parking lot level. It lies about nine or ten feet below that, and is, therefore, surrounded on three sides by sloping land. Only the east end of the site slopes downward away from the field, giving evidence of how much dirt had to be packed into the gulley. Very impressive. Blogger was told that thousands of tons of dirt were transported to the site back in the spring and summer of 2008. She has on her computer desktop a photo taken from the floor of the gully in early March of that year. In the early years after the school’s construction, the gully had a rugged loveliness that was cherished by the nature lovers among us. Now just a memory. But today’s progress dictates other values for the school. The loveliness once possessed by the gully will, in future years, be enjoyed in the wetlands still under development.

Depression at Dusk (Dawn, Too)

You will recall from the last posting, that the Detention Basin West was constructed to absorb the water that collects in it. That water is coming from the ground surfaces around the basin, including the neighboring property to the west of NDA’s, and the parking lot--quite a lot of water, as you can see. The filtration through the grasses and other plants that are being added to the sides and bottom of the depression is in full swing with all the rain we've been having. Kenton Water District is pleased. In fact, they have been on board in the project for several months, being also interested in, and instrumental in, the rain garden off the main parking lot. Yea for our teams! It’s so good to be ecologically effective; our good earth deserves this, at least.

Depression At Dusk

Actually, it’s there at dawn, too. We’re speaking here of the physical sort that has the technical name of Detention Basin West (“Dusk”)—what you have read about here before as the detention pond. What you will see in this posting and the one to come is the basin in process. As you will recall, the basin has been in place for months just west of the theater, waiting its turn for attention. (The Muses would say, “First things first.”) And attention has not been wanting in the last few months. The first step shown here was the spraying, if that is the right word, of a very fine top soil to the necessary depth, begun on August 18th. and taking several days. Next came the rolling out of seed “carpets” that were stapled to the sides of the basin. The placing of various plants to aid in the absorption process was the next step. It’s all in the knowing! Stay tuned for the next exciting episode of “Depression at Dusk (Dawn, Too)”.

Prop The Imagination

The theater is all about creating a world, usually one or a few persons' little world. A visit to the prop storage room reveals that the masters of illusion there are busy creating Annie's little world. So here's a peek. Amazing, isn't it! Our prop creators are masters indeed. The Muses are pleased.

If you wish to see more and haven't marked your calendar yet, here's a compelling reminder. Performances for the public are Oct. 9, 10, and 11. The three evening performances begin at 7:30, and Sunday afternoon's performance begins at 2:00. You won't see the Muses, but they will be in rare form (literally) for certain during those days.

Dedicated To The Glory of God

At last the big day comes--August 23, 2009: Dedication of NDA's Fine Arts Center and Fitness Center. While much went into the preparation of the event (a later posting), let's look at the event itself. The weather was amazingly cooperative, given its recent disposition. The principle actors were in good form. The supporting cast was very supportive. The crowd was large and enthusiastic. What more could we ask?

Principal actors: Bishop Foys, Ordinary of the Diocese of Covington; Sr. M. Shauna, President; Sr. Marla, Provincial of the Sisters of Notre Dame; Sr. Elaine Marie, Principal; Fran Carlisle, major donor, and Ann Buenger, another major donor, represented by Mike Keating. Board members, department chairpersons and support staff of the school, and Student Council representatives were also on stage, as God's favors were reviewed, the benefactors thanked, the contractors commended, the Sisters of Notre Dame along with the faculty and staff praised, and finally God's blessing on the new facilities invoked. It was a heady hour, but a glorious one for all who have worked so hard in the past few years to see these facilities realized. All this was graced by the NDA-CCH band performance and the choral renditions by the Singing Dames, as well as the display of art works by alums seen in the Alumnae Hall.

PRAISE TO OUR GOOD AND PROVIDENT GOD!