By Thomas Grant Jr.
Cecil Woolbright Field received its reintroduction to the public this past Friday.
After over a year of renovations to the 5-story pressbox and expansion of home and visitor seating, the $8.5 million project is now available to the public. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the stadium by Lexington-Richland School District Five and Chapin High School officials.
“I will tell you that there’s no other place on a Friday night like Cecil Woolbright Stadium,” New Chapin head football coach Ryan Cole said. “It’s electric. My goal as head football coach and athletic department representative is to have our football team be stewards of the community.
“You can bring your family out, enjoy the electric atmosphere and we’re going to build good, young men through the game of football.”
Guests at the ceremony had an opportunity to tour the expanded press box which is accessible by elevator or outside stairs. The main section for game night activities will have separate coaches boxes, seating for Chapin Eagle Club members, media rooms for print, radio and television, and a video room.
The floor below will serve as a multipurpose section for athletic and non-athletic activities.
An hour after the ribbon-cutting, the Chapin Kickoff Classic served as the first official football event for the new stadium. Chapin and seven other public schools participated in four, two-quarter scrimmages in preparation for the upcoming season.
Chapin closed out the Classic with a 10-10 tie with Ridge View. It opens the season Friday at Catawba Ridge, then returns for the Aug. 30 home opener versus A.C. Flora.
Fans got to witness football for the first time at the completed stadium an hour later with the Chapin Kickoff Classic. Eight schools, including the host team, competed in four scrimmages.
Chapin closed out the event with a 10-10 tie against Ridge View. The Eagles return to Cecil Woolbright Field on Aug. 30 for their first “official” game against A.C. Flora. Their season-opener is Friday at Catawba Ridge.
Photos by Thomas Grant Jr.
