- WEEKLY POLL
Mollenkopf to be rededicated before Oil Barrel game
By J. Patrick Eaken
Press Sports Editor
sports@presspublications.com
On Sept. 13, Waite will rededicate the newly renovated Mollenkopf Stadium during a ceremony prior to the Oil Barrel Trophy City League opener between Clay and Waite.
As part of Toledo Public School’s Building for Success program, Waite was granted approximately $1.1 million to renovate the historic stadium. Principal Dave Yenrick said that as a sign of good faith, Waite friends and alumni donated an additional $350,000 for the project.
Started in the fall of 2005, renovations of Mollenkopf are pretty much complete, Yenrick said. The area underneath the home stands was completely gutted and new facilities were built, including new home and visitor’s locker rooms with new showers and restrooms, new coach’s room, trainer’s room, referee’s room, and a storage area.
At the east end of the stadium a new service pavilion was built to house a ticket office, restrooms for both home and visiting fans, and a concession stand. The entire stadium was painted, including new signage.
To recognize those who gave to the renovation of Mollenkopf, an Alumni and Friends Plaza was developed in front of the service pavilion. Depending on the amount given, different size pavers were placed in the plaza recognizing those who gave.
Other incidentals include new flag poles, field goal netting, corporate signage pavement, and trainer’s room equipment and furniture.
During the ceremony, guests can visit the renovated facilities from 4:30-5:30 p.m. At 5:30, the VIP tent opens, and the rededication ceremony begins at 6:45 p.m. The football game is scheduled for 7:30, and at 8:30, the VIP tent opens.
Speakers will be Yenrick, TPS Board of Education President Steven C. Steel, Superintendent John Foley, renovation committee co-chairpersons Darla Wandtke Harbaugh and Robert R. Carson, and athletic director Robert G. Utter, Jr.
Fundraising for Mollenkopf exceeds expectations
By J. Patrick Eaken
Press Staff
Writer
news@presspublications.com
On Sept. 21, 1934, with the dedication of Waite High School’s new football stadium, a dream of 20 years was realized — to build one the finest high school football facilities in the country.
“It’s still the finest football stadium in Northwest Ohio to watch a football game in,” claims 1948 graduate Bob Carson. Carson spoke to the East Toledo Club at its bi-weekly luncheon this past week.
Mollekopf Stadium remains today only one of only three completely walled-in high school football stadiums in Ohio located on or next to a high school campus. Its history dates back to when Waite conquered Ohio and was considered one of the premier gridiron programs in the nation.
The stadium remains a source of “East Side Pride,” a reflection of the community’s love of sports, and especially its Waite Indian teams, say members of a fundraising committee for renovation of the historic stadium.
Carson heads the Perpetuating the Dream Campaign committee, which started with a goal of $100,000 to add to the $1.1 million Toledo Public Schools is providing.
“It’s really been a marvelous experience,” said Carson, a Sylvania resident, about his playing days at Mollenkopf. “It was just a time when athletics at Waite were its peak — we beat Massillon 46-6. I understand how East Toledo has changed over the years, but it’s a place I still love a great deal.”
The $100 grand goal was met within a month, so the committee raised it to $300,000, which was also quickly met, and now Carson and the committee have raised the fundraising goal to $350,000. Several businesses have given up to $15,000 each and other corporations and businesses will receive signage around the stadium for donations.
Carson said corporate donations make up about $90-100,000 of the nearly $300,000 the committee has received so far. But, Carson remembers mostly some of the individuals he contacted that live out of state; and the responses he got.
Carson said one Waite grad who is now a plastic surgeon in California wouldn’t get off the telephone once he contacted him and told him about the renovations.
“Finally, he asked what are you calling for,” said Carson. “It must be about money.”
Sure enough, Carson said the surgeon gave $1,000, as did another donor who lives in Detroit. One woman, Carson said, called from a rest home where she lived and bought a brick paver in memory of her father, who played football at Mollenkopf.
“Pavers are a great way to commemorate any special occasion or provide a lasting memorial for a loved one,” said Carson. “Please consider a paver to honor or memorialize a friend, a graduate, a staff member, a family member of anyone you wish to recognize.”
“Remember, each paver you purchase will serve as recognition of your support of Mollenkopf Stadium and Waite High School,” Carson said.
Most major construction is complete. A re-dedication will take place the day of the Oil Barrel Trophy game between East Side rivals Clay and Waite next September.
After more than 75 years of use, the stadium was in need of critical renovations. The Perpetuating the Dream Campaign committee is still asking Waite graduates to “be a part of Waite High School history by supporting the renovation of historical Mollenkopf Stadium with the purchase of an engraved paver,” says publicity materials.
The personalized brick pavers will form a semi-circular Alumni and Friend Plaza for the new service pavilion, and are still being offered to finance the project. The service pavilion is located at the east end zone of the stadium and houses the new concession stands, home and visitor’s restrooms, and a ticket office.
Other renovations include new locker rooms, showers, restrooms, a trainer’s room, coach’s room, and referee’s room. Structural repairs have also started taking place and the entire stadium is being weather proofed and painted.
After the committee went on a campaign of silent fundraising, it went to the public side, and events still remain on the calendar offering opportunities to give donations. The next fundraiser is a walkathon to be held May 5 to benefit the project, either at Pearson Park or the football stadium.
“People can see what’s going on, what’s been completed, and so forth,” said Principal Dave Yenrick, who would like to see the walkathon moved from Pearson to Mollenkopf. Contact the school for the final location of the event, he says.
Yenrick remembers the problems they had with the historic stadium prior to the renovations. Even Athletic Director Bob Utter was refusing to allow playoff games be played there in recent years because of the facility’s condition.
“Since back in the fall of 2005, this has been weighing heavily on me. Visiting teams and visitors to the stadium don’t even want to use the locker rooms, the teams would rather meet in the end zones at halftime, and there were complaints about the bathrooms,” said Yenrick.
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