BY NICHOLAS BRANDT

The grand reopening and ribbon cutting ceremony of Thyberg Field took place before Varsity Football took the field against Covina on Friday, Sept 7. Members from the School Board, City Officials, District Administrators, and family of Dr. Clifford S. Thyberg, the superintendent from which the field was first named after. Bulldogs, Spartans, and Trojans alike packed into the newly refurbished stands to witness the historic field’s reopening.

“It’s a personal connection. Thyberg Field is named after my grandfather. My mother was part of the first Spartan graduating class and I was part of the last Spartan graduating class of West Covina High School,” alumni Shelly Doonan said. Doonan is a part of a line of WCHS alumni that continues on with her children who are current students. She also expressed excitement for the new aquatics center, another plan for renovation on campus as a result from the bonds set in place for facility improvement and renovation.

The stadium received extensive renovations ranging from reconstructed bathrooms to the repair and renewal of the bleachers. In addition to a fresh coat of paint, the bleachers are now handicap accessible from ramps below the interior of the stands and feature the announcer’s box with more advanced technology. The lines of the track have been repainted, and the ticket offices and snack bars were touched up to further improve the experience of patrons to the field. To celebrate the event, ASB gave away one thousand rally towels to the first one thousand attendees. The new stands were packed with spirited students and alumni.

“I think Thyberg Field looks a lot better than it used to my freshman year. I think the fact that they included handicap ramps for the stands is a really big thing. It’s really cool that they’re making sure that people who are disabled can be able to sit and watch the game without having to be carried up the steps,” senior Zoe Sarinas said.

Thyberg Field is the first of many locations on campus that will be renovated. According to the plans for the future campus renovations, the performing arts center and science center are the next places that will be improved.

“I think that the school is starting to look up. The school is getting cleaned up, we’re getting new buildings developed, and I think that WCHS is going to look really good for years to come,” senior Zoe Sarinas said.