![Hosting the SCLA Casptone Mentor Dinner outside allowed for more attendees on September 27, 2021 at Silver Creek. This event would’ve usually been held inside. According to Lauren Kohn, a SCLA 12 teacher, “If we have a higher number of people, as long as we can host the event outside, then that seems to be keeping every[one] safe”.](https://schsnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/sxMAIGbSYGodZkqmrvTi5YWcJ1ssWA08ApkeMLpp-900x675.jpeg)
In the sweltering gym of Silver Creek High School, the heat isn’t just uncomfortable, it’s an obstacle athletes face when working to perform at their highest level.
Currently, Silver Creek doesn’t have an AC system in the gym, and there isn’t a timeline for the implementation of one. There should be a more urgent plan. The only form of cooling in the gym at the moment are two box fans, which don’t help all that much.
Not having a proper cooling system in the gym not only affects athlete performance, but it also raises concerns about potential threats to athletes’ health. On top of that, hosting events in the gym can be dangerous for spectators, especially older family members who might be impacted by the heat during a game.
Avery White, a junior athlete at Silver Creek, plays both volleyball and basketball. She, like many other athletes, struggles with the heat. Especially during the summer months, it can be hard to play in the high temperatures.
“Definitely in the summer, I feel like I’m always more focused on the heat than actually playing,” White said.
The heat also affects hydration. Making sure you’re hydrated is much more important in warmer temperatures, and not drinking enough water during practice can be dangerous.
“We have to take more water breaks, which means less playing,” White said. Losing practice time to water breaks shouldn’t have to be a concern, and it would hopefully be less of one if there was a cooling system in the gym.
Rachael Ayers, head volleyball coach, also has concerns about her athletes’ health.
“I definitely see a depletion of energy,” Ayers said. “I see a lot of girls that just get what I call kind of soggy, there’s nothing crisp any longer.”
Without effective cooling, climbing indoor temperatures can lead to dehydration, heat exhaustion, and fatigue. This is what Ayers often sees happen in her gym. According to the WetBulb Globe Temperature, the higher the temperatures, the higher the risk of illness or injury.
In the gym, temperatures can reach into the 90s during the summer months.
“High heat, low hydration, and extreme physical demands can really put a kid in a spiral,” Ayers said. “I don’t know that that really supports the continuous type of movement that we’re trying to coach and develop in young athletes.”
The high temperatures can take away from the development of skills and endurance when athletes have to perform in those physically high demanding conditions.
Implementing an AC system is important to the well-being of athletes, so it should be a priority to install some form of it in the gym, in addition to the box fans which are already there in an attempt to cool down the gym.
According to Erick Finnestead, principal of Silver Creek High School, the school is currently looking at this for the future.
However, there are cost obstacles involved.
It can cost over $500,000 to install air conditioning in a high school gym. Although there are alternatives, like large ceiling fans, those options can still carry a hefty price.
Considering the importance, Silver Creek might be able to hold fundraisers or accept donations to raise money for the project. The health of student athletes should be something that’s talked about more often and addressed with greater urgency, so athletes can thrive in the setting they know best.
