Game On! — Bishop blesses Tolton Catholic field upgrades

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The holy water nearly evaporated as it landed on the new turf and track at Fr. Tolton Regional Catholic High School’s refurbished athletic complex.

There were no puddles, no ruts, no divots, no dust.

Only a first-rate facility for present and future Trailblazers to practice and play.

“This is a wonderful symbol of what happens when we work together selflessly, generously, sacrificially to provide for the generations that depend on us,” said Bishop Ralph B. O’Donnell during the Aug. 13 blessing and ribbon cutting ceremony for the facility.

Joining the bishop on the track at the 50-yard line were Father Ignitius Nimwesiga, a chaplain at the school; Father Roberto Ike, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Columbia and chairman of the Tolton Catholic Board of Directors; Daniel Everett Ed.D., the school’s principal and president; Pat Kelly, vice principal and athletic and activities director; Jeremy Diener, executive director of advancement and principal gifts; members of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce and other distinguished guests.

An impressive gathering of students, parents, faculty and contributors observed from the stands.

“Thank you for braving the heat to be here and for sharing this special moment with our school community,” said Dr. Everett.

Fr. Nimwesiga led the assembly in prayer.

“Heavenly Father, we gather today with grateful hearts to celebrate this new field and track and the many blessings you have poured upon our school community,” he prayed.

“May this facility serve as a place of community, joy, healthy competition and lasting memories,” he continued. “Let those who gather here always be guided by integrity, humility and your Holy Spirit.”

Work on it — the first phase of an estimated $8 million upgrade to the school’s outdoor athletics facility — got under way in March.

It included installing artificial turf on the football and soccer field; a durable, soft-surface, eight-lane 400-meter track; additional facilities for track and field events; increased seating and an updated PA system.

No tuition or diocesan money was spent on these upgrades. Donors to the ’Blazers — Game On! capital campaign (blazers-game-on.org) are paying for this and future phases of the project.

Dr. Everett thanked the donors “whose vision, sacrifice and belief in our school made this project possible.”

He noted that while the improved facility will provide new opportunities for athletic competition and achievement, it has an even greater purpose.

“It will be a place where young people learn perseverance, discipline, teamwork, leadership and sportsmanship,” Dr. Everett stated. “It will be a place where lifelong memories are made, friendships are strengthened and character is formed.”

In keeping with the school’s Catholic identity, “we see this new facility as an opportunity to continue developing our students in spirit, heart, mind and body,” he said.

Bright future

Mr. Kelly called to mind the 15 years that elapsed between when the school opened and when these needed improvements were made.

It was a time of great achievement despite the less-than-adequate outdoor facilities for students to train, perform and compete on and gather around.

“While we are proud of our history,” said Mr. Kelly, “I am so excited to see what can be accomplished this season and in the years to come, as our students now have the opportunity to train on a safe, first-class facility.

“The future is truly bright and the potential for our teams to do great things is here,” he said.

Mr. Kelly highlighted the effect the upgrades will have on past and future students and the greater Catholic community.

He said alumni have returned to train on the track before leaving to begin their college seasons.

Conversations are under way on how the facility can help students at Our Lady of Lourdes Interparish School in Columbia.

“While our Tolton Catholic programs will always be the priority, the opportunity to bring future ’Blazers onto our campus and build their excitement in our school, years before they enroll, is a benefit that goes way beyond sports,” he said.

Mr. Diener noted that more than 75 individual donors, in addition to the M614 Foundation, contributed to the ’Blazers — Game On! capital campaign.

“Every one of those gifts represents a commitment to Tolton Catholic and a belief in our students,” he said. “We are incredibly grateful for the sacrifice, trust and support that made this possible.”

Dr. Everett said the field blessing and ribbon cutting were a celebration not only of what had been built but also what will happen there in the years ahead.

“Future victories will be won, records may be broken, and traditions will be created,” he stated. “But most importantly, lives will be shaped.”

Bishop O’Donnell expressed gratitude to “all who take action on behalf of the good of our students.”

“Thank you for the work that you do to provide for the development of their hearts, minds and souls in preparation for all that God has in store ahead of them,” the bishop said.

Praise and thanksgiving

Members of the Tolton Catholic varsity football team took to the field for practice after the ceremony.

Junior Holden Strobel plays on the offensive and defensive line.

“I’d like to thank God first,” he said in an interview. “Nothing’s possible without him.”

He also thanked the donors for their sacrificial gifts.

Holden is convinced that God is out on the field with him and his teammates, regardless of the score.

Senior Owen Tipton is this year’s starting quarterback.

He said the new playing surface feels softer and more even than the grass the team played on in years past.

“I’ve hit the ground a few times,” he stated. “It still hurts, but you get up and keep walking.”

He said the teams can now practice and play in any weather, including rain and snow, without tearing up the field.

He said he’s grateful for the opportunity to get out, play a sport he loves and spend time with his friends.

He said God makes himself known in big moments and small moments on the field.

“He wants us to praise him, lift each other up, give each other confidence and help each other feel like we’re supposed to be here,” said Owen.

Holden and Owen asked for prayers for all the student athletes to remain safe and free of injuries while practicing and playing.

“Also, for God to help us be gracious toward our opponents and act as Christ would,” said Holden.

“Nothing but respect”

Father Michael Coleman, who has been a chaplain at Tolton Catholic since it opened in 2011, was out of town during the blessing but later shared memories and hopes for the future.

“I’ve seen some incredible performances on that field from Day 1 — some thrilling wins, some heartbreaking losses,” said Fr. Coleman, who’s also pastor of Holy Spirit Parish in Centralia.

For him, the greatest moment came during the varsity football post-season, when the Trailblazers hosted the Centralia High School Panthers.

Several Centralia players are Fr. Coleman’s parishioners.

“It was a great game, a very close game, and Tolton Catholic wound up winning,” the priest recalled.

Afterward, he went onto the field to pray with the Trailblazers at the 50-yard line, “like we always do, win or lose.”

He looked up to see the Centralia boys on their way over to join in.

“It was the most beautiful thing,” said Fr. Coleman. “A hard-hitting game, great sportsmanship, and then afterwards, prayers and nothing but respect. It was high school sports at its best.”

Bishop O’Donnell is convinced the present and future Tolton Catholic students will not only benefit from the community’s generosity and commitment to the school but will “carry that forward to the generation that will depend on them.”

Fr. Coleman said he can’t wait to see what happens on the substantially upgraded field throughout the upcoming year.

“It’s holy ground, that’s for sure,” he said.

For information about the next phase of the ’Blazers — Game On! Capital campaign, which will include a new playing surface for the baseball/softball field, visit blazers-game-on.org.

Fr. Coleman is working on a feature story for The Catholic Missourian about Tolton Catholic Head Football Coach Michael Egnew and his journey to the Catholic faith.