Kearney Catholic High School launches activities complex project after decades of preparation

KEARNEY, Neb. (KSNB) - Kearney Catholic Athletic Director Rick Petri has been in the position for more than 25 years and in that timeline, multiple discussions were made to launch a project for a brand new activities complex. Now, the wait is over.

Not only have there been plans for the last few years, but the last time any upgrades have been done at the school was 17 years ago involving the school gym. The total cost for the project is $6.5 million with the most expensive part of the budget being the addition of a new $1.3 million turf. This feature of the field had to be filled with dirt a couple times during the 2023 football season due to the dirt starting to sink.

The soccer team as well as the band will be able to put the facility to use as they previously had been placed in other areas to practice. Petri says this won’t only have an immediate impact but will support future stars as well.

“Students athletes have toiled on this track, on this dirt track. They have experienced significant success an that is a tribute to the coaches that we have and the game,” he said. “We are really excited and it is going to be great for the future.”

The current dirt track will also be replaced with an all weather version similar to what neighboring school have. Another addition that the athletic director is looking forward too.

“All of our events that we go too are on those sorts of tracks and going to from a dirt track to a real track is a significant difference,” Petri said. “Our kids will just have the benefit of having that and we will be able to play soccer here in a great environment.”

Nemaha Sports Construction is the team assigned to the project and President Jeff Emmanuel is excited to work on the community blueprint that will benefit generations to come.

“You know this is so awesome to be apart of this, Kearney Catholic community it is going to be a wonderful facility with a new track, new lights, new field, new bleachers. It is going to be a total transformation from what it is today,” he said.

The project is set to end before the 2024 football season.

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