By RYAN ARENA
L’Observateur
RESERVE — East St. John will potentially be expanding the number of sports it offers next school-year, with wrestling the likely new addition if things can be logistically be worked out, said East St. John athletic director Phillip Banko.
Banko, who has already overseen the additions of competitive powerlifting and weightlifting to the school’s athletic landscape, said that it’s important to offer the students of East St. John as many avenues to get involved at the school as possible.
“Our young people deserve every right to compete in sports that others compete in,” said Banko. “I believe in the high school experience. You only get to have it once … Our kids love East St. John. They love the black and gold. And they’ve been dedicated to being very much competitive in all that they do while representing our school.
“It would be a great opportunity for our high school to generate more involvement.”
Banko said that the first priority is that the school’s main campus be finished and ready for the students return going forward — the school was flooded during Hurricane Issac and its day-to-day operations displaced to the former Leon Godchaux Jr. High School campus.
Beyond that, he’d like to see the third sport in as many years added.
“It comes down to a few things, like the ability to replace our old wrestling mats, of course the finances, and if we have a coach who wants to do this,” he said. “The trick, of course, is working within our budget. But I think it’ll work out.”
The school added powerlifting last season for the first time since the 1980s, and weightlifting this season. Both ventures have been successful, with the weight-lifting team finishing in second place at a Christmas meet at Spectrum Fitness in Baton Rouge.
Another potential addition could come at ESJ’s Joe Keller Memorial Stadium.
East St. John Principal Patricia Triche and St. John the Baptist Parish officials, including Sheriff Mike Tregre and Director of Parks and Recreation Terrance Jones, recently requested New Orleans Saints consider donating their used artificial turf field from the past season.
A letter delivered from the parish to the Saints organization detailed how the wear and tear on the football field at Keller is compounded by the fact that it is the parish’s lone public stadium with a field sufficient for athletic events — it is in constant use year-round by high school, middle school, recreational youth and semi-pro league games, and hosts more than 20 games per week during football season.
With soccer season immediately following, the letter states that the stadium field cannot receive the proper upkeep and care it needs, thus making it an “eyesore and potentially catastrophic liability.”
Banko said the request, if granted, would be a tremendous benefit.
“So many kids play on that football field,” said Banko. “Supposedly, the Saints donate it each year. We should be hearing one way or the other soon.”
The Saints have helped East St. John before, donating football equipment to the school following Hurricane Issac. That included over 380 pairs of athletic shoes, cleats and game jersey pants.
“The Saints have been very gracious toward us,” said Banko.