These are especially good times for our Bartlesville High School athletics program. The undefeated Bruin varsity football team has gotten off to its best start ever – 7-0 overall – and seems very likely to claim a coveted playoff spot out of District 6A-3. Meanwhile, the varsity softball and volleyball teams both qualified for the Class 6A state tournaments in their respective sports. It’s indeed a great time to be a Bruin.

The fine times will continue on Friday, Oct. 23 when the Bartlesville Public School District plays host to a special open house event for the new Bruin Activity Center. A spacious facility – it measures 125 by 125 feet and reaches as high as 42 feet at the loftiest point of the ceiling – it will offer a perfect area for our athletic programs to practice during inclement weather. The BAC will feature dropdown batting cages, protective netting on all four walls, two restrooms, storage areas and heating. The floor will be completely covered in artificial turf, the same brand (Hellas) which is found at the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium.

6A-3 varsity football matchup at Custer Stadium. So, I’d like to personally invite everyone to attend the open house on the evening of Oct. 23 and then make the short walk from the BAC to Custer to take in the game, which will kick off at 7:30 p.m.

We envision the BAC getting plenty of use from the football, baseball, softball and soccer programs. The cheerleading and pom squads as well as the band will be able to utilize it, also. It should prove especially useful for those teams which play in the spring, such as baseball and soccer. Since their preseason practices are held in the winter, Mother Nature isn’t always accommodating. But thanks to the BAC, practices will be able to be moved inside whenever the weather dictates such a maneuver. The protective netting which hangs in the BAC means there will be no issues with balls being hit or kicked around in it. Though there is no air-conditioning in the facility, there are huge doors in it which can be opened to provide plenty of ventilation. Should we need to expand the facility in the future, that can easily be done, adding another 50 feet to the south end.

A product of the $29.95 million school bond issue which voters passed in 2007, the BAC is a metal building which features a stylish look thanks to a stucco-like finish. It has an ash-colored base which is topped by a Bruin blue stripe which runs horizontally around it. The upper portion of the structure is white. The BAC is located on the BHS campus, just south of the Bruin Field House and the Fine Arts Center. Thus, it can easy share parking with those facilities.

"We’re excited about this new facility," says Tim Bart, the BHS varsity boys basketball coach and assistant athletic director. "It will be a great addition to our campus and we’re so appreciative to the community for making it possible."

We have seen several improvements in our athletic facilities in recent years, most of them made possible as part of the 2007 bond issue as well as the $30.5 school bond issue which voters passed in 2001. A tremendous home to our basketball and volleyball programs, the Bruin Field House made its debut in December of 2006. Last year saw the opening of the new Bruin Softball Field, a fantastic facility. The Custer Renovation Committee assisted in securing donations for the new turf and an impressive video scoreboard which were added at Custer Stadium in 2008. This year, in addition to the BAC, the new Bruin Locker Room Facility opened in August, just in time for the 2009 football campaign. Created for the varsity program, it features a spacious locker area for the players as well as video and coaches rooms.

Custer Stadium, which was built in 1954, has received several updates as well. Those include a remodeled visitors’ locker room, renovated restrooms, a sealed seating area, new third-fl oor lighting and fresh tiling. In addition, the track which circles E.H. "Ted" Lyon Field at Custer Stadium, has been resealed.

While we always stress academics within the Bartlesville Public School District, we are certainly proud of our athletic programs as well as the stellar facilities which support them. On Oct. 23, I sincerely hope everyone comes out as we unveil our newest one – the Bruin Activity Center. I have no doubt that it will prove quite worthy of our Bruin pride.

-Dr. Gary Quinn