After successful football seasons a year ago, both the Orangefield Bobcats and Port Neches-Groves Indians athletic departments decided to give their facilities a facelift.
Both schools contacted Ty Gibson, the founder and CEO of Water Boy Graphics, to improve their locker rooms with state-of-the art designs, updated team logos and inspirational quotes.
“I’ve taken my two loves in life which is graphic design and sports and combined them to help out schools throughout the state,” said Gibson, a 1988 Bridge City graduate. “We try to give all of our high schools a personalized look with a college feel no matter how big or small the school is.”
For Orangefield, who won their first playoff game in more than a decade last season, the facelift is about more than a new look to their facilities.
Since getting $3,000 worth of upgrades in May, many Bobcats have been inspired by the inspirational quotes Gibson and his staff have placed in the locker room to give the facilities a state-of-the art look.
Since summer workouts began three weeks ago, participation in the strength and conditioning programs and activity in the weight room has been at an all-time high for Orangefield. Head football coach Josh Smalley, the new and improved look Waterworks has given his program is one of the many changes coming for the Bobcats this fall.
“The commitment of our administration and community has been great and we will have a new inflatable tunnel, new football’s with our school’s logo on them to go along with our state-of the art facilities this fall,” Smalley said. “Kids in today’s time like the new technology and having new things to represent their school in. As a result, they gain a big since of pride and responsibility and are motivated to push themselves and work harder.”
Port Neches-Groves has spent $25,000 to date on various projects throughout their facilities to help both their boys’ and girls’ athletic programs. Since doing so, PNG has seen an uptick in morale according to head football coach Brandon Faircloth.
“We have kids that are highly motivated to work hard already and improving our facilities just adds to their motivation and pride,” Faircloth said. “Our players definitely love the changes and things like this are helping us build a solid foundation that we hope translates into success on the field.”
Orangefield senior middle linebacker Austin Moore is among the players thrilled with the improvements the Bobcats have made.
“All the new sayings and quotes along with the new look to the locker room overall is motivation and has inspired us to push ourselves harder than ever to show people this is what our team deserves,” Moore said. “With everybody inspired to work out because of the new things, our goal for this upcoming season is to put in the work in now so we can show everyone we are on the same levels as the West Orange-Stark’s and Hardin-Jefferson’s.”
Source: http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/sports/hs/article/Bobcats-Indians-improve-facilities-6342796.php#photo-8197823
