NL building momentum with new stadium

NEW LONDON — The timing could not have been more perfect. Last week, the New London High School football team played in its first game at the new football stadium located on the school campus. The Wildcats (1-1) took a 36-18 loss to Zanesville Bishop Rosecrans on Aug. 29 at what is temporarily being called "Wildcat Stadium." However, the unveiling of the stadium meant more than just upgraded facilities. A lack of numbers forced the program into competing in 8-man and junior varsity football from 2021 to 2023. That also left fellow longtime Firelands Conference opponents scrambling for replacement games. But New London returned to 11-man varsity football in 2024 and finished 2-8. Now, they have a brand new facility to help build a program back up from the bottom. "That's huge," New London athletic director Tom Howell said. "The stadium opens, we have 34 on our varsity roster, and in junior high we have 17 kids out in both the seventh and eighth grades. So that's another 34 kids. "The numbers are growing, and the kids are starting to compete," he added. "There are good things going on, and the kids are playing hard. The hope is we can continue this momentum going forward." From 1970 to 2024, New London played its home games at Recreation Park, located near the village campgrounds and Millstone Hills golf course. That was about a mile away from both the former NL high school and the current building, which opened 25 years ago. And while having locker rooms for both teams and updated restrooms are at the top of the list of new perks, Howell said simply having the stadium right out in front of the school is the best change. In the past, the football program bused together from the school to the old field. "The safety of the kids alone, you can walk out the door and there it is," Howell said. "Now on a weeknight you can see the different running practices going on while the football team does a walk-through on the field, which is also something we couldn't do before. "Now, it's all right here, and it's a huge convenience." To that end, Howell said he forgot to bring something with him to the first game last week. In the past, that meant driving from Recreation Park back to the high school, then back to the football field. "Instead, I was just able to walk across the parking lot to my office and grab it," he said. "That's the biggest thing. The bells and whistles and the quality of the field are great, but those little things have already added up and made a huge difference." New London won Firelands Conference championships while playing at the old site in 1970, 1972, 1973, 1994, and 1995. The 1994 and 1995 teams went a combined 20-3 with back-to-back playoff appearances and a regional runner-up. "We're all excited about the new field," fifth-year head football coach Jon Harrison said. "I played and coached on the old field, and there are a lot of memories to cherish. But this is almost like a fresh start. "We didn't really talk about it a lot as a group, but we all know we're excited to be out there," he added. "It's going to be different, but it's something we'll be able to take great pride in. We want to get everyone excited not only for the new stadium but also by what we put on the field." Like Harrison, Howell also graduated from New London. He also admits last week was bittersweet not to be at Recreation Park. "But man, to go from what we had to what we have now is simply night and day," he said. "With technology, the locker rooms, restrooms, and the quality of our field ... you can't beat it. "Like a lot of people, the old place we will always carry with us in memories, but change is good. You can't progress without change, and we definitely needed change." New London Schools superintendent Brad Romano is in his 12th year in the position. Having seen the transformation, Romano said he was overwhelmed with a sense of pride at the first game. "I was proud of the work that went into accomplishing this goal, and I'm proud of the many community members that helped make it possible," Romano said. "I'm proud for our students that have the opportunity to compete in a state-of-the-art facility, and overall, just very proud for the district that we are able to accomplish this goal without an increase in taxes. "We had an electric crowd on Friday, and I'm excited for our first home conference game." The football and track facility broke ground on May 13, 2024. The $4.7 million project was financed through Certificates of Participation with no tax increase. The venue was designed as more than a football stadium and a track for the runners. With no soccer program, the bleachers were placed closer to the field. The locker rooms also have multi-purpose spaces to also support other programs such as baseball. Commencement ceremonies will also be held at the venue each year as weather allows. Both Romano and Howell said the stadium is essentially complete as far as construction is concerned. "But we are constantly evaluating and making little improvements here and there to improve our fan experience," Romano said. The superintendent also said the district is exploring naming rights for the facility, as well as sponsorship on the video scoreboard. Any business that is looking to advertise at the complex or inquire about naming rights can contact a school administrator. Howell said the highlight of the first game was a pregame conversation with a Rosecrans coach. It showed the amount of work that went into the facility. "Rosecrans thought we had turf," he said. "They showed up, and their players had turf tape for their elbows and such. The field looked so nice on game film that they thought we had field turf. "It's just awesome all the way around, and of course that makes us feel good about everything, too."