GHS fans can leave their mark on new stadium
By SCOTT POWELL Ledger Staff Writer spowell@gaffneyledger.com

Engraved bricks for a Gaffney High football stadium walkway are being sold by the Block 'G' Club to support the school's athletic programs.

Gaffney High School invites fans to go on the warpath for athletic programs as part of the new football stadium.

The Block 'G' Club started a fundraiser project last week called the "Gaffney High School Warpath," said Gaffney High teacher Ben Fuller, sponsor of the Block 'G' Club.

The club for varsity athletes is taking orders for engraved bricks to be placed on a walkway that will extend parallel to the main stadium entrance.

For $100 fans can buy a 4 x 10 brick with three lines of text. A $200 donation purchases an 8 x 8 brick with six lines of type. All proceeds will go toward supporting Gaffney High School athletics.

"We came up with the idea for the fundraiser on the ride back from the (upper state championship) game at Summerville," Fuller said. "We were brainstorming ideas for what we could do to raise money on an ongoing basis to supplement our athletic programs. Coach (Jeff Mages) saw an article where another school had sold engraved bricks as a fundraiser for athletics. We thought this would be a good project to do with the opening of the new stadium."

People can have the bricks engraved in memory of a loved one or can choose to show their support for a specific academic program.

Additional bricks will be installed twice a year along the walkway. The masonry project will be done separately from the regular stadium project.

Fuller said the father of Gaffney High teacher Donnie Littlejohn, a self-employed brick mason, has agreed to install the bricks.

Once enough funds are raised, Fuller said the athletic department plans to purchase a Speed Station Pro Unit from the company "Speed to Win."

"The Speed Station Pro is the 'big blue box' that is fixed outside and surrounded by turf. This is an apparatus that will allow coaches to train up to 75 athletes at one time," Fuller said. "All sports will be able to use this equipment and it will be permanently placed on the school grounds."

The Speed Station Pro Unit is an example of the type athletic equipment which many high schools can not afford from their normal athletic budgets, Fuller said. Retailing for about $79,000, the Speed Station is one of the top speed training machines currently on the market.

High school football programs provide the main source of revenue for school athletic programs.

Forms for the brick fundraiser can be obtained from the Gaffney High School main office and the school's Web site. Online orders can be placed beginning in mid-February.

"New projects will be determined as needed," Fuller said. "Please know that all donations will go to support Gaffney High School athletics."