For years, Herrin Junior High made do with a single gym, the historic Mike Sortal Gymnasium, named for the longtime coach. That space served as the home for basketball, volleyball, assemblies, and daily physical education classes. With more than fifty students often packed into a single P.E. period, teachers had to be creative to keep kids moving and safe. Now, with the addition of a second gym, the school has entered a new era—one that promises greater opportunities for all students and a bright future for Tiger athletics.

Veteran P.E. teacher Maura Ingle, who has taught at Herrin for thirty years, could hardly hide her enthusiasm. “We have a ton of room, a lot of things that we’re able to do in P.E. that we’ve never, ever done before,” she said. Pickleball, soccer, and badminton are now realistic units, and for the first time, boys and girls can be split for certain activities instead of sharing one crowded floor. Just as importantly, students with different ability levels, including those in the district’s STRIVE program, can participate more fully with adapted activities. “For safety reasons alone, this is going to be huge,” Ingle explained.

Her colleague, P.E. teacher and coach Justin Lukens, echoed her excitement. He pointed out that with two gyms, sports practices can happen simultaneously without bumping into cheerleading, dance, or other activities. Basketball teams will be able to run full practices after school without waiting for their turn for court space. “Now the junior high could even run tournaments,” he said, noting that volleyball and basketball tournaments are possible because the school can now host games in two gyms at once.

For the students, the change is dramatic. Eighth grader Amayah Simelton, who plays basketball, volleyball, and runs track, remembered how limited the old setup was. Games like capture the flag or kickball had to be modified because balls often got stuck in the bleachers or walls cut into the court. “We didn’t get to play normal capture the flag because we didn’t have enough running space,” she explained. Dodgeball often meant standing shoulder to shoulder with little room to move. “You didn’t really have enough room to dodge,” she added. Now, with the new gym, there is space to play freely, and her favorite activities feel more exciting.

Seventh grader Hudson Miller, a basketball and baseball player, agreed. “The space just feels so much bigger,” he said. “The old gym felt closed in. With this gym, you have all the space in the world.” Both students practiced basketball in the new gym over the summer and noticed an immediate difference. With more space beyond the baselines and sidelines, they could run plays without fear of colliding with concrete bleachers or cheerleaders. “It’s safer for everyone,” Hudson said. The design also gives cheerleaders more room to perform, avoiding the tight quarters where only half the squad could be on the floor at one time.

Another bonus is the new locker rooms. Both Amayah and Hudson praised the upgrades, from better air circulation to cleaner bathrooms. In the old setup, the boys’ locker room doubled as a storage space for P.E. equipment and didn’t even have a bathroom. Now, the locker rooms provide more space for teams to gather, and coaches can address everyone comfortably without players sitting on the floor.

The students are already imagining the atmosphere of their first home games in the new space. Hudson expects it to be electric. “It’ll get really loud in there because of the echo,” he said, describing how the sound of fans, cheers, and the band will fill the gym. Amayah added that even last year, when the girls’ basketball team went to state and finished second, the crowds were so packed into the old gym that it often felt hot and claustrophobic. The new facility promises to be more comfortable while still delivering the same energy.

For Ingle, Lukens, and the athletes, the second gym represents more than just a building. It’s a symbol of progress and possibility. Teachers now have space to keep all fifty students in a P.E. class moving for the full forty minutes. Athletes can prepare in a safer, more professional environment. And the community can look forward to larger events and tournaments that bring people together under one roof.

As the next chapter of Tiger athletics begins, the message is clear: Herrin Junior High is investing in its students, their health, and their future.