a good day, part 2

You know you've had a good day of gym hunting when you visit one of the oldest gyms in the state (1924) that was home to a team named the Rappites, once served as a temporary hospital & morgue (in the aftermath of the devastating tornado of 1925), played a role in a Hollywood movie (A League of Their Own) and has been resurrected as a community event center.  Not many old gyms have had as many lives as the Ribeyre of New Harmony, but let's be honest - there are not many towns like New Harmony, a living monument to Utopian ideals.  

You know you've had a good day of gym hunting when an athletic director (Leigh Latshaw) welcomes you with open arms, gives you a tour and unlimited access to a wonderful new gym (compared to New Harmony, Mt. Vernon was built in 1965) and a trophy case full of basketball history.  And even though the Mt. Vernon (Posey) Wildcats have not won a Sectional title since class basketball began (their last title was in 1988), their dedication to the sport is in plain sight.

You know you've had a good day of gym hunting when you visit a town of gymless teams (Stendal) who inherited a World War 2 airplane hanger and turned it into a gymnasium. The appropriately named Aces won all three of their Sectional titles in the 1930s (1931, 1932 & 1939) and their former home is now a lovingly cared for community center.

You know you've had a good day of gym hunting when you discover one of the smallest gyms in the state located above a former hardware store that last hosted a team of local firemen.  This hardwood court was home to one of two teams in Indiana with a mascot named after a character in the comic strip Popeye (Jeeps) and thanks to local businessman Bill Powell, now houses a treasure trove of Wheatland High School history including a letter from a Wheatland player to his parents after their Sectional victory over Freelandville (55-48). On the night before their Saturday matchup with Vincennes our young player (Ron or Bill) closes by asking his folks to "get us up by 8:30 or 9:00.  We will eat breakfast at Sinclair Station at 10:30 (eggs, poached, & tea). Beat the Alices."  Like I said, a good day of gym hunting.  CGS.