The girl’s locker room at Tucker County High School recently got a much needed remodeling. The renovations were spear-headed by a very special alumni, Judy Pitzer, who was a 1978 graduate of Parson’s High School. Pitzer took the project on herself after seeing the locker room first-hand and was taken aback by what she saw.
“I do building inspections. I see a lot of locker rooms”, said Pitzer, who is a Senior Risk Consultant for an insurance company.
She said that she had seen inner-city and large school districts with better looking locker rooms than Tucker County’s. When she first viewed the area the large old shower room was being used for storage of gym equipment and the locker area of the room was to put it kindly, multi-colored.
“I’ve been to other schools and colleges and saw what they have there”, she said.
Pitzer thought to herself that these girls (Tucker County High School’s Basketball team) have had winning seasons since 1974 and deserved facilities at least as nice as the teams they were competing against. Pitzer has a soft spot for the basketball program having been a member of the first girls’ basketball team to ever start in Tucker County (1974).
When most people would have just shook their heads and walked away, Pitzer exhibited her athletic drive and got down to the hard work of making the project happen. She started asking where can we provide these girls a locker room like this and what can we do? She then went through all the appropriate channels to get permission for the project from the Superintendent, the Board of Education, the High School Principal, the Athletic Director, etc. until she was certain everyone was on board.
Next began what most people would tell you is the hardest part of any like project- the fundraising.
Pitzer sent out over 100 letters to past Women’s Basketball Alumni. She received a good response and was even aided by five major contributors (who have earned a special mention on the wall over the entryway to the room). She then headed up a successful elimination dinner that was supported very well by the community at large, and later a pie sale. Five months later, enough funds were raised to start the renovation.
Elbow grease was needed for the next step as the old showers were torn out, painting done (the girls of the team painted everything), hallways and walls were built, the old floor was concrete and sloping so the floor needed to be built up and level. As the work continued, benches were built, as was one of the young women’s favorite additions: a make-up counter with stools and lighting. Then came a large white board and wall mounted T.V. to review plays and scouting reviews. Finally hooks were installed and due to the narrowness of the area, cubbies made by the high school’s carpentry class were installed. Motivational quotes and artwork adorned the walls which are decorated in Tucker County High School’s colors.
The overall cost of the project was between $10,000- $12,000 dollars in materials costs as time was donated by those involved. The physical part of the project start to finish ran three months. Pitzer was proud that the team was able to use the new space for the very first practice when the season started this year.
When asked about her impression of the make-over, T.C.H.S. student Emily Crosten said: “I really like it. It’s a lot nicer, we have places to sit, its cozy.”
Fellow team mate Cecily Strawderman agreed: “It’s awesome. I really like the make-up mirror, the cubbies and the long mirror.”
Another team member, Sydney Moore echoed Strawderman’s appreciation of the make-up area and added: I like the art (on the walls). This is one thing the girls got for OUR sport.”
Madison Reall reflected on the first time she saw the redo; “The first time I walked in I couldn’t believe all the stuff we got, I couldn’t think of anything else we needed.”
I spoke with a couple of the team’s mothers who had wonderful things to say about the completed project.
“It’s very, very nice. I’m very thankful that someone spear-headed the whole project and did something nice for the girls”, said Becky Moore.
Robin Nestor said: “The new addition to the girl’s locker room is a great asset to Tucker County High School and a benefit to the players. I think this shows what kind of alumni Tucker County Schools have produced since the funding was largely through donations from past girls basketball players.”
When asked what one thing more Pitzer would have like to have done or gotten for the project she responded: “A nice sound system, for pre-game warm ups or video review on the T.V., even musical purposes for the girls.
The renovation is yet another example of the county’s “can do” spirit of generosity.
