UPPER LAKE >> It’s not a new floor, it just looks like one.
The Upper Lake High School gym has a brighter, rosier appearance following a floor resurfacing and repainting project that was completed earlier this week by CRG (Club Resources Group) of Tracy, which worked the same magic for the Upper Lake Middle School gym just across the street in Upper Lake.
Outgoing Upper Lake Unified School District Superintendent Pat Iaccino spearheaded the project, according to Upper Lake High School varsity girls basketball coach and athletic director Mike Smith.
“Before he retired, he wanted a cleaner look, to get rid of the busy look with all those lines (on the floor),” Smith said of the ULHS gym.
After a complete resurfacing of the gym floor that left it bare, the floor was sealed and new lines painted for basketball and volleyball. Cougar red trim was added on the perimeter of the court, which has a lighter look except for the keys, which are stained a darker color and definitely stand out.
On the south side of the gym floor, four distinctive words are written in front of where the scorer’s table is situated near midcourt. In script is written Home of the Cougars.
Another big change is the logo at center court, which feature a block UL painted white with a thin red outline.
“We considered several Cougar head logos, but a class UL block was the best bet,” Smith said.
The letters in Home of the Cougars are stained the same color as the keys, adding a certain symmetry to the entire project.
“I wanted something on the sideline that compliments the darker stain on the keys,” Smith said.
Future improvements include painting all the doors inside the gym Cougar red instead of the current burgundy, and upgrading the stands.
“It feels like a new gym floor,” Smith said. “We want the students to have pride in the facility and take care of it. We want them to take ownership.”
While the gym project played havoc with the volleyball team’s summer open gym program, Robinson Rancheria in Nice came to the rescue by letting the high school athletes use the gym at their recreation center.
“We want to thank them for that,” Smith said. “It really helped.”
