School spirit was palpable at the ceremony as speakers and spectators were surrounded by wreaths of purple and white, complimenting the court’s new hue. Gage Wilson/for Glasgow News 1
By GAGE WILSON
for Glasgow News 1
After nearly a year of planning, meetings and construction, Caverna Independent Schools unveiled its reconstructed tennis courts with a ribbon cutting Tuesday, Sept. 9, and revealed the courts are named for Terry Bunnell.
The event drew crowd of residents, students and city leaders from Barren and Hart counties.
“The future is looking bright for Caverna,” said superintendent Amanda Abell, who spoke about how facility improvements such as the courts should hearten not only her staff and students, but the surrounding communities as well.
The transformation of the courts was stark. At Caverna’s December board meeting last year, Abell described the courts as having, “… cracks out there that’re 2 to 3 inches.”
The four courts, now sporting the school’s iconic purple color scheme, were rebuilt from the ground up. The $200,000 project was funded by private donations, grants from the United States Tennis Association, and the school itself. While the focus was on the courts, Abell also used the opportunity to tease additional projects, including new restrooms at the softball field.
She then turned the microphone over to Bunnell, director of the Weldon Tennis Association and longtime advocate for the project. Bunnell’s tennis career began at the Caverna courts where he attended.
“I took it as a personal project to bring these courts back to life,” he said. “Everyone trusted me on this and I want to thank you all for that.”
Bunnell revealed that through his campaigning and the generosity of individuals and community organizations he was able to cover 62 percent of the cost, roughly $124,000.
While he lamented not being able to name everyone who helped, he offered special thanks to several supporters. The first was Jason Miller, executive director for the United States Tennis Association of Kentucky.
“I went to Jason, and I said we’ve got to raise some money for this and I need some help,” he explained. “I had a tough situation but Jason made it better.”
Gratitude was also expressed to Matt Olson, director for the association’s southern region. Locally, he noted a sizable donation from the Horse Cave Rotary Club, secured by member Vickie Newberry.
“Many individuals, a lot of you in the crowd, are individuals that gave money to this,” he said. “I appreciate you, I appreciate that I can pick up the phone and call you and you can help.”
With thanks given, Bunnell circled back to the sport itself. “I could tell you a few stories, but I won’t,” he laughed. “Maybe after we’re done.”
He closed with a heartfelt statement: “Tennis is an impact sport…. In tennis you never know how you are going to impact the lives of other people, you never really know when you will impact someone but it will happen some time, somehow.”
Terry Bunnell and Caverna Schools Superintendent Amanda Abell cut the ribbon on the new tennis courts at Caverna High School. The courts are named for Terry Bunnell. James Brown/Glasgow News 1
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