BATAVIA – Batavia senior Kevin Perkins gasped in delight the first time he saw Batavia’s brand-new fieldhouse.

"Some fieldhouses are small and cramped, but this is just gi-normous," said Perkins, waiting to participate in three events before Friday's indoor track meet, the inaugural competition at the sparkling facility. "We can have multiple events and multiple sports practicing at the same time."
Perkins' reaction is about on par with what Batavia athletic director Mike Gaspari has witnessed in recent days and weeks.

“A lot of jaw-dropping,” Gaspari said. “Both that and our new fitness center have created a lot of stir. They’re just beautiful facilities. I can’t tell you how fortunate [Batavia athletes] are. They’re college-type facilities. We went from having nothing to having as good as any facilities I’ve seen at this level.”

Tuesday marked the first day Batavia physical education classes were able to use the 56,200 square foot, $6.7 million fieldhouse. It includes eight straightaway track lanes and a six-lane, 200-meter oval with large, sweeping curves for meets. Four full-court basketball courts, multiple red-and-yellow scoreboards and ample storage space for equipment are among the fieldhouse’s other main components.

Batavia boys track coach Dennis Piron is also high on the rolled, rubber traction surface – rough for the track and smooth for the central court space. As Friday’s co-ed track meet revved up – Geneva and Wheaton North were the housewarming guests – Piron said he was “giddy” about the school’s new indoor digs.

“Coach (Chad) Hillman had a lot of great input into how things should be laid out with this space and I’ve got to commend our administration here at the school and the architect (Arcon) who did the project,” Piron said. “They listened to us. A lot of these projects, they don’t. So a lot of the best features were collaborative efforts, and us looking at other facilities.”

Gaspari said Batavia will become the perennial host of events such as the Upstate Eight Conference indoor boys and girls track meets because nobody in the UEC has a comparable facility.

The fieldhouse was approved by referendum in April 2007 as a nod to Batavia’s severe space crunch that sometimes kept athletes practicing at the school until 10 p.m. or later. It was part of a $75 million school referendum that also included an auditorium and additional classroom space at the high school, plus an addition at Rotolo Middle School.

“Probably the best part of it to me was we approved this project just in time before the economy went into a tough situation,” Gaspari said. “Not only were we able to get this facility, but it produced a lot of jobs for people in terms of the building and everything that went into it.”

Batavia’s facilities become the envy of the Tri-Cities; St. Charles East has an indoor fieldhouse, but Geneva and St. Charles North do not. It will be cherished year-round, but figures to be especially valuable leading up to the spring season, when teams often are in a bind until the weather allows for outdoor workouts.

After more than 25 years at the school, Gaspari is relishing the transition from scraping by to a suddenly luxurious existence for Bulldog athletics. Batavia’s new, upscale weight training center has been up and running since September.

“Incredible,” Gaspari said. “We went from having a lot of excuses, physically, to having none. And the best part of it is the kids are really taking it to heart. All those places are packed all day long and into the evening.”

Change of plans: Chip Hickman's appointment as Kaneland's new principal this week leaves Batavia hunting for a new athletic director.

Hickman, Batavia’s associate principal, was to absorb Gaspari’s AD duties when Gaspari retires at the end of this school year.

Batavia principal Lisa Hichens said she is in the process of talking to groups at the school about the qualities needed in the position, and expects to post the opening on March 1. Hichens said it was too soon to know whether assistant ADs Shelby Gajos or Piron would be considered.

Batavia planned to move to a model in which an associate principal also would serve as AD, a structure that was sensible with Hickman, who has a coaching background. Hichens said it is possible someone else can be found who would fill both roles.

Gaspari said he would stay on as needed to help acclimate his successor, saying his only short-term plans are to serve as an assistant football coach under Piron. Beyond that, Gaspari said he will entertain other career possibilities, possibly including college teaching.

"I want to do something that's fun and exciting. ... You can't just step away cold turkey," Gaspari said. "I don't even know if that's healthy."

• Jay Schwab is sports editor of the Kane County Chronicle. He can be reached at 630-845-5382 or  jschwab@kcchronicle.com.