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LIVINGSTON -- There were a lot of smiles from the wide-eyed players as they walked into the new Livingston High School gym for the first time on Monday afternoon.
Their expressions said it all.
They approved.
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LIVINGSTON -- There were a lot of smiles from the wide-eyed players as they walked into the new Livingston High School gym for the first time on Monday afternoon.
Their expressions said it all.
They approved.
SUN-STAR PHOTO BY MARCI STENBERG Members of the Livingston High boys basketball team practiced in their new gym for the first time Monday afternoon.
"We've seen the outside, but never seen inside," said senior guard Brian Alvarez. "It's really nice. It's a lot bigger. We're excited to play here on Friday."
The doors opened to the new gym for the first time on Monday. Merced Union High School Board Dave Honey, Livingston principal Ralph Calderon, Livingston associate principal Scott Weimer and coaches Angelo Naldi and Luciana Lacey were on hand for ceremonial first shots before the boys' first practice inside.
The doors will officially open Friday when the Livingston boys host Patterson.
It's only fitting it will be Livingston's homecoming game.
"All the players are talking about who will get the first basket, the first 3-pointer, the first free throw, the first layup," Naldi said. "I made sure to point out they can make the first stop, too. We've got to play defense, too."
The Wolves' new home passes the eye test.
The school colors are present with the purple bleachers and the purple and gold lettering on the court.
There's a giant wolf emblem at midcourt. Above one of the bleachers reads the script "Running with the Pack" in silver and purple, and on the other "The Wolves Den."
All the lettering and artwork on the court and around the building were done by Kourt Graphics, which also painted the courts for the Golden State Warriors and the Sacramento Kings.
"It's gorgeous," Lacey said. "This place is awesome. It's huge. We're definitely not used to this.
"It's very good for our school and the community."
The gym was built after Measure M passed in 2009. The same bond is also paying for the football stadium currently under construction at Golden Valley, the pools at Buhach Colony and Golden Valley and the construction of gymnasiums at Merced and Atwater.
The 1,400-seat venue took 14 months to build and cost $4.8 million, according to Weimer.
The old Livingston gym was built in 1953 and held about 600 people.
It will still be used for practices and wrestling matches.
"Having two facilities is going to make it a lot easier," Naldi said. "We won't have to have kids here at 5:30 in the morning for practice. We can get them home earlier because two teams can practice at the same time.
"The old facility can be used for city leagues. We can start up our youth stuff again on Saturdays where our high school kids get involved with the little kids."
While the new home is nice, it's still tough to leave the old gym.
"I am such a nostalgic person," Lacey said. "I grew up in the old gym with (her father Angelo) coaching, running around as a little kid and then playing there.
"I'm always going to love the old gym, but this will be great for the new kids coming through high school."
Housewarming Party
Livingston High will host its first basketball game in the new gymnasium on Friday, Feb. 4. Game times are: freshman, 4:30 p.m.; junior varsity, 6; and varsity, 7:30. Tickets will go on sale Friday afternoon at the student body office on campus. As part of the presale, Livingston will be offering a three-game package for $8, including Girls Senior Night on Feb. 8 and Boys Senior Night, Feb. 16. Single-game tickets are $5.
