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Published: Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013 / Updated: Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013 04:08 PM

York spring sports benefit from new facilities

YORK -- 

The York Comprehensive High School athletic facilities continue to draw raves in the “new” school’s third year of existence. Such was the case when athletic director Steve Boyd discussed the spring sports season.

“We’ve had a wet start to the spring sports season,” said Boyd. “It’s been cold and rainy. Instead of drying out, the wet grounds thaw out. We’ve already canceled several scrimmages.”

However, with York’s new sports facilities, Boyd said coaches have options when rainy conditions impede early-season preparations. The new YCHS has a main gym and an auxiliary gym.

There also is an indoor facility for wrestling and cheerleader practices.

“Our baseball, softball and soccer participants can go indoors,” said Boyd. “Our baseball players can discuss fundamentals and technique in the P. E. classrooms.”

He said track participants, as well as other spring sports team members, can run laps or sprints in the upper level of the YCHS main gym, while others are using the court space.

“In addition, boys and girls soccer participants can practice on the artificial turf when the rain stops,” Boyd said. “The turf absorbs the water and the soccer teams are ready to go.

“There are no puddles of water and no mud.”

The YCHS track and field facilities haven’t gone unnoticed by opponents in Region 3-AAAA.

“The Clover and Lancaster track teams chose to compete at our place instead of hosting a meet because of our facilities,” Boyd said. “Our track team has only one away region meet. All of the other meets are at home.”

York will be hosting the prestigious Bob Jenkins Herald York County Track Meet and the Region 3-AAAA Track Meet.

Boyd said spring sports season is a busy schedule. “We have 180 scheduled events,” he said. “There will be as many as four to nine events a day, six days a week.

“If there are too many rainouts, makeup games and double-headers will be scheduled.”

Boyd said seven York County teams in the Region 3-AAAA alignment benefit from the close proximity of the schools, because less distance travel is needed.

“Team bus transportation is our biggest expense,” he said. “It will result in a huge savings — probably thousands of dollars with so many teams in the county compared to previous years.”

Spring sports at YCHS are about to swing into gear. There also will be plenty of action at York Middle School, where boys and girls track has been added to the spring sports slate.

“We are continuing to expand the athletic opportunities for middle school students,” Boyd said.

“We previously added baseball and girls softball,” Boyd said. “With track now available, the middle school students have more choices for spring sports participation.”