Sneakers were squeaking in the Manchester Township Middle School gym for the first time ever as the Mustangs basketball team played their first game Jan. 8 on a new wood floor.
Up until this year, the school gym was an oddity with its carpeted floor. Staff, parents and students seemed to agree that the best thing that came out of the school's recent mold situation was the replacement of that carpet with a beautiful new wood floor, school officials said.
Team members were thrilled with the shiny new floor, complete with a blue-and-gold Mustangs logo in center court. "It's not embarrassing to play a home game anymore," several said, almost in unison.
Principal Nancy Driber, Vice Principal Steve Ninivaggi, Director of Curriculum and former middle school principal Tom Baxter, and Superintendent Dave Trethaway were there to witness the first game against Central Regional where both Driber and Trethaway worked before coming to Manchester.
"The students are so excited to have the new floor and get rid of the carpeting. One student told me it's like Madison Square Garden,” Driber said. “Honestly, they really deserve this.”
The Middle School was closed earlier this year while mold cleanup efforts were underway. Students attended Manchester Township High School on split sessions. Although the school reopenend in late November, the replacement of the gym floor was just completed on Jan. 7.
