Where will the Su Valley Rams play?

August 30, 2005

JEREMIAH BARTZ\Frontiersman sports editor

TALKEETNA - With only a few days until the start of the 2005-06 school year, 188 Susitna Valley students are still not sure where they will go on the first day of school.

The doors of Susitna Valley High School have been, at least temporarily, closed, with the building being deemed unsafe. Inside the high school, are not only the classrooms for the 188 students, but the gymnasium and home of the Ram volleyball and basketball squads.

If the school is indeed closed for the entire school year, to make the necessary repairs to a faulty roof, the Susitna Valley volleyball and basketball teams will have to find another practice facility, and venue to host games.

Su Valley principal Matt Clark said the closure would be a serious problem for his athletic squads, but admits his first priority is finding classrooms for his 188 students.

"The overriding factor is where are we going to have school," Clark said. "There is no use making plans until I have more information about where school will be."

Volleyball is scheduled to start in early September, and basketball is set to begin in late November. The Su Valley hoopsters have some time, but the volleyball squad is eager to find a home court - quick.

Susitna Valley volleyball coach Chad Valentine said the season will start as scheduled, regardless. Trapper Creek Elementary and Talkeetna Elementary have facilities that could be used by the Ram volleyball squad.

"We're going ahead as normal," Valentine said. "other than a little more driving time."

The Susitna Valley outdoor sports - cross-country running, cross-country skiing and track - should not be terribly effected by a possible closing of the school. The cross-country running and skiing squads use the trails nearby SVHS, and the track and field squad use the track outside the school.

The Rams have several home events scheduled to be hosted by their outdoor sports squads, and Clark said those dates should not be effected. The Ram cross-country running squad hosts the Susitna Valley Invitational on Sept. 17.