By Jennifer Stultz
Tri-County Tribune Editor
jstultz@cherryroad.com
An old gym on the campus of USD 382 Pratt has been restored and sports fans plus community members gathered for a grand opening of sorts at the Frog Dome on Friday, February 14 in Pratt. Pratt High School boys’ and girls’ basketball teams played, pep band music reverberated off the ceiling, and spectators young and old cheered loudly throughout the evening.
“I grew up in the Frog Dome and played there for Pratt High in the early 2000s,” said Jake Eisenhauer. “Getting a chance to be an assistant coach for Pratt High and coaching in the Frog Dome as an adult was awesome. The environment was electric and even louder than I remembered it being when I played. The noise level and environment that the Frog Dome used to bring to Pratt High was such a disadvantage to opposing teams because it’s an environment that is tough to get high school athletes ready to deal with.”
Eisenhauer, a current assistant coach with the Greenback girls’ basketball team, said the experience of coaching in the same gym he once played in was like a dream come true.
“Mr. Swank and the rest of the administration should be applauded for the amount of effort they put into the project of getting Pratt High back into the Frog Dome to play a game in such an old and iconic Kansas high school basketball gym. It was a great experience,” he said.
David Swank, USD 350 Athletic Director, said the Frog Dome event was actually a fundraiser for the PAC (Pratt Academic Center) landscaping project.
“The Frog Dome now serves as the main gym for PAC physical education classes and also serves as one of two home courts for the LMS basketball teams,” Swank said. “As a fundraiser for the PAC Landscaping project, one section of seats were reserved and full of fans right behind the score-table. Thanks to the many Greenbacks that contributed through purchasing a reserved seat. If patrons are interested in donating to the PAC Landscaping project, please contact Tony Helfrich at the Pratt Academic Center.
Swank said that many Greenback fans, and even several Larned basketball fans, told him they appreciated the opportunity to watch a game in the historic building and to see the renovations.
“As the athletic director, it is my plan that the Frog Dome PHS game will become an annual event for Pratt High School,” he said.
In addition to celebrating old spaces made new, those in attendance at the Frog Dome game were treated to cheerleaders wearing vintage uniforms from the past.
Pratt won both games (boys and girls) over Larned to top off an exciting evening for the crowd.
