West Liberty-Salem officially opened its long-awaited Tiger Strong Fieldhouse Friday, marking the completion of a project years in the making and adding new athletic and community space to the school campus.
The facility includes a large gym with two courts for basketball, volleyball, and other activities. It also features a weight room, athletic trainer room, and a community room that the district hopes to use for meetings, events, and other gatherings.
West Liberty-Salem pride is on display throughout the building, with decorations and displays highlighting Tiger athletics.
Outside the fieldhouse, a new turf area was installed behind the football stands, giving children a place to spend time during events. The project also includes a brand-new ticket booth at Tiger Stadium.
Superintendent Kraig Hissong discusses the feeling of seeing the finished project and what it will bring to the community.
The Tiger Strong name has a deeper meaning for the West Liberty-Salem community.
It was chosen as a slogan following the January 2017 shooting at West Liberty-Salem High School, when student Logan Cole was shot inside a school restroom.
Cole survived his injuries and became a symbol of strength and resilience for the school and community. The Tiger Strong name reflects the way the community rallied around Cole and one another following the shooting.
The district says the fieldhouse was made possible through years of planning, fundraising, and support from the West Liberty-Salem Athletic Boosters, Board of Education, families, businesses, and organizations.
The district also thanked the many companies involved in designing and constructing the facility.
The Tiger Strong Fieldhouse now stands as both a new home for Tiger athletics and a lasting symbol of the strength and community spirit of West Liberty-Salem.
