Robbinsville – Do not adjust your sets: it is the same floor that was already in place.
But in a couple of weeks – when you walk into the Robbinsville High School gymnasium for the Lady Knights’ home volleyball opener against Asheville Christian Academy – one could easily assume the hardwood is brand new.
Thanks to a three-week restoration effort by Murphy-based Appalachian Flooring, the first major overhaul of the gym floor in 17 years has managed to brighten up the already-high atmosphere players and spectators feel when they step into the facility.
The upgrade was a collaborative effort between coaches and Graham County Schools faculty and was brainstormed by Lady Knights’ basketball coach Lucas Ford. Budgeted as a $20,000 expenditure – but coming in slightly over, at a cost of $24,702.50 – the project was completely funded by the N.C. Department of Public Instruction K-12 Athletic Facilities Grant, of which Graham County Schools received $102,000 to apply not just to the floor, but six other projects as well.
“I’m just so thankful to the administrative staff – including Superintendent Angie Knight and assistant superintendent Robert Moody – as well as the administrative staff at the high school, for supporting this,” Ford said. “It needed a facelift and it got one, quick.”
Indeed, the gym was closed to public access June 29 – and by the week of July 18, select staff were allowed to venture in and analyze the work. Appalachian Flooring sanded down the floor to its original finish, before applying new layers of varnish.
The result? A more vibrant look for the luminescent floor, which already received a shot in the arm from natural light that pours in from windows above the home stands.
A new “Black Knights” logo adorns the center of the court, along with updated “SMC” logos that are strategically placed to face both the away and home sides of the gymnasium. Both baselines also received an upgrade, with white lettering reading “Robbinsville” (on the away side) and “Black Knights” (at the home end) replacing the formerly-black font that set against the darker surface.
Ford noted that the final tint along the sides of the gym floor – where benches are placed during games – came out a slightly different color than anticipated, but it does pay homage to the previous look. He added that updates will continue, explaining an intent to paint the walls with a mixture of gray, black and white.