BALDWIN CITY, Kan. — Baldwin High School is one of 40 schools across the nation competing for a $1 million upgrade to its sports facility.
If Baldwin High School wins the competition, they will get a new track, fresh turf and Friday night lights.
Crews installed turf inside the school’s weight room thanks to a $5,000 grant from the T-Mobile Friday Night Lights competition.
“They chose us to not only win $5,000, but then to be selected as a division finalist in one of the top 40 in the nation out of 2,500 schools,” Bald win Athletic Director Dayton Valentine said.
Valentine is spearheading the effort. The school scored $25,000 as a division finalist.
Now, they are coming after the division champion title, which could earn the school $250,000 plus a $90,000 weight room upgrade and a $5,000 scholarship.
Baldwin is currently ranked second in the Midwest division.
If they score first, it’s on to the finals, where a $1 million prize toward a home field upgrade is up for grabs.
Senior quarterback Bryis Alford said this could be a game-changer for future student-athletes.
“It also gives them the opportunity to not have to worry about, ‘Oh, I’m going to get injured because I’m going to step in a pothole or slip on mud, and my performance isn’t going to be as good’” Alford said.
His team practices at the high school, but plays home games at Baker University, and Valentine says rent is costly.
“While it is nice to have a college stadium in town at the same time, everything’s in orange and black, it’s not in purple and white,” Valentine said.
Valentine believes the facilities at Baldwin are lacking.
He says they are one of a few 4A high schools in Kansas without football field lights — often leaving the team to battle heat and daylight.
“We also had to move a number of games from home to away so our kids miss out on home opportunities, playing in front of their parents and their family and friends, because we have to go schedule games at a facility that has lights.”
Valentine said this would mean so much more than just a new stadium and upgrades to the facility. It is about giving back to the community.
“When I was 14, my dad was diagnosed with stage 4 terminal cancer. And as a 14-year-old trying to navigate life with that going on, this community was able to pick me up and rally around me,” Valentine said.
You can vote daily by clicking here. When you get to the website, click on Midwest and select Baldwin High School.
“For us, it would bring a ton of opportunities not only for football but soccer, flag football, cheer, dance, band – you name it,” said Valentine.
Baldwin High School is currently in second place in the Midwest division. You have until Oct. 25 to vote.
