When a community really comes together for the kids, it’s heartwarming and special. That’s just what happened recently in Northeast Wisconsin, where a new gymnasium was built for student athletes at Manitowoc Lutheran High School.
The new gym came with a $9 million price tag, and remarkably, the cost was entirely covered by outside donations. We’re so proud to be part of this project and be able to see firsthand how Manitowoc’s support is contributing to the happiness and success of young athletes.
Grab a seat and join us as we tip off the story of Manitowoc Lutheran High School’s gym, including the installation of a new, revolutionary sports floor from Action Floors.
A Need for More Practice and Play Space
As reported by NBC 26, the old gym at Manitowoc Lutheran was frequently packed with multiple teams so that kids had to wait to play—and got home late from practice. Luckily, a spacious, state-of-the-art facility was on the horizon.
The city of Manitowoc showed up for this school, with the full gym project being funded by outside donations. The students are very thankful, with a sophomore athlete telling NBC 26:
“It really means a lot to me to have this new gym to play in. I’m so thankful for everyone who’s been able to donate money to us. It really shows how much of a supportive community we have here at Manitowoc Lutheran.”
The grand opening of the new gym was intended to show off how much room students will have to enjoy their sports—five basketball teams can now play at once!
Way before the grand opening, though, at the beginning of this significant project, there was a big component to tackle: the floor.
Strong Relationship = Strong Foundation
Because the school’s new gym was so meaningful to the kids and lovingly supported by the people of Manitowoc, the project—and particularly the floor installation—needed to go off without a hitch. And when you need something done right, you go to someone you can trust.
For Scott Loberger, Manitowoc Lutheran’s Athletic Director, that person was Gary Zander. Gary is our Midwest Sales Representative and has a personal connection to the school, with both his wife and children having graduated from there. It was important to Gary that Action Floors be involved from the ground up, so he worked with the building committee, had input on budgetary items, and recommended a new, upgraded floor from what was originally proposed. At the core of this project, there was a relationship founded on trust between Scott and Gary.
Getting in the Zone
Gary recommended the upgraded system called the Action Zone. It’s an anchored resilient flooring system that includes a subfloor system made from recycled polymer with anchoring T-block retainers. The Zone also has continuous 5/8” strip foam and all-natural rubber pads. For athletes, these features provide:
- Vibration control/dampening
- Proper vertical deflection
- Room for horizontal expansion
- Ideal ball rebound
- Uniform playability
- Superior comfort
But what really sets the Zone apart from comparable flooring is its dual pad system, a system made for safety and founded on qualitative and quantitative research.
The Impact of Repetitive Motion on Players
Data has shown where most basketball practice shots are taken, presenting a concern about monotonous movements for players. Northern Michigan University, which also conducted research on the Zone, explains the effect of repetitive motions:
“On average, a basketball player will perform 70 or more jumps in a game,” said Assistant Professor Matt Kilgas. “That’s not even counting practices. Those impact forces are considerable—multiple times a player’s body weight. If athletes are jumping and landing repeatedly, it can lead to overuse injuries to the knee and ankle because those joints are constantly dealing with repetitive, high-impact forces.”
Based on this expert research and our dedication to safety, the Zone was designed to have dual pads strategically placed where repetitive motions take place. The pads reduce vibration and the impact on joints, helping with soft tissue development and safeguarding athletes’ bodies. This is music to Scott Loberger’s ears, as he is committed to keeping athletes healthy as they learn and grow.
“I think it’s awesome for the kids,” said Loberger. “Most of our kids are three-sport athletes, so anything we can do to protect them from injury through the course of their year is great.”
In addition to their new gym, Loberger says Manitowoc Lutheran will be building a new training facility to keep athletes healthy and help them recover from injuries. It’s a testament to their holistic care for students, and we commend them for it.
Strategically Selected Floorboards Solve HVAC Concerns
Many school gym HVAC systems are different than they were before the pandemic. HVAC pros have tuned systems to increase air exchange, which keeps air healthier but also adds more untreated air to spaces. That additional air leads to more fluctuation in temperature and humidity.
Changing environmental conditions like this impact the performance and longevity of maple hardwood floors, which is why we recommended that Manitowoc Lutheran go with 1 ½-wide floorboards instead of the typical 2 ¼. With narrower floorboards, there’s more room for the maple to breathe (aka expand and contract), preventing cupping and gapping in the wood and keeping the floor performing its best.
Is it time for your new floor?
We’re so excited to see Manitowoc Lutheran’s athletes enjoying their Action Floors courts over the decades to come. But, is it your turn?
You deserve a quality flooring system with optimal safety and performance, injury prevention attributes, indoor air quality benefits, and sustainable materials. We can help you select the perfect flooring system for your athletes.
Get started on your sports flooring project—reach out to our team.
