IWA gets new track

The ribbon cutting of IWA’s Austin Street Athletic Complex was different than traditional ribbon cutting events. Seniors Jackson Bright (from left) and Kayla Dural, seventh graders Tyler Cortez and Sarita Pettus, and fourth graders Sarita Pettus and Ethan Metz rejoice as they make it to the finish line at the blessing and dedication ceremony of the complex. Lori Cruz, Incarnate Word Academy

The ribbon cutting for the new Incarnate Word High School track took a novel approach on Feb. 1 as members of the school’s track team, Ethan Metz, Sarita Pettus, Tyler Cortez, Remy Ellison, Jackson Bright and Kayla Dural, raced around the track breaking a red ribbon at the finish line.

It marked the completion of Phase I of the school’s capital campaign, “Enlighten, Inspire and Strengthen,” which raised approximately $950,000 from private donors and the John G. and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation. Work on the Austin Street Athletic Complex began on October 2012.

“A facility like this tries to achieve new highs,” IWA president Charles Imbergamo said. “We are up for the challenge. We plan to continue to build and improve what we have. All around us is patience and hard work, skilled craftsmanship, the pursuing ideas for decades. Lessons learned –it is worth dreaming. It’s worth working hard for.”

More than 500 people, including church officials, students, parents, faculty, staff and alumni were present at the blessing and dedication, which coincided with the last day of National Catholic Schools Week. Bishop Wm. Michael Mulvey gave the blessing and students Isabella Williams, Mary Matl and Elizabeth Kirkland led attendees in the pledge of allegiance and Theresa Lopez sang the National Anthem with accompaniment from the high school band.

The Austin Street Athletic Complex includes more than a new all-weather surface for track. It also includes new equipment, new batting and golf cages, a new fence, a natural grass turf for the soccer field, areas for high jump, discus and shot put, a long jump runway, a vault box, a new storage area for sporting equipment and new equipment to orchestrate field events.

Reynaldo “Gator” Garcia, IWA Athletic Director, said the vision of revitalizing the athletic complex had been 40 years in the making. With Phase I completed, the school is ready to start Phase II.

“Today does not mark the end of the enlightenment campaign,” Imbergamo said. “We are going to continue to inspire and dream and work hard, so that Phase II–building the new Montessori school, and Phase III–adding a middle school gymnasium–are realized.”

“We all get very caustic about the future of America, but when you look here you know we’re in good shape,” retired Army Gen. Marc Cisneros, CEO and executive vice president of the Kenedy Foundation, said as he looked out to the students. “When I visit the Academy I get that same positive feeling, the sense of patriotism and selfless service that makes you so great.”