Van-Far wants to level the playing field. Literally.

The school is currently working on several renovations for its athletic facilities, including laying down a new eight-lane track, relocating the football field in the middle of that track, and adding a new softball field.

Athletic director Kelly Borchert said a grant was announced during the COVID-19 pandemic from the district’s booster club to partially fund the cost of the project and then was finally received so the renovations could begin. Ground was broken back in early spring and work will hopefully be done, weather permitting, by August.

“We are getting a brand new eight-lane track,” Borchert said. “Because we are moving the football field, our softball field is going to be brand new next year as well. The softball field is going to us the old football field press box so it’s going to be turned in the opposite direction. We’ll have brand new dugouts and a brand new batting cage.

“Our new superintendent (John Fortney) along with our booster club and other resources have made it possible. A lot of people pitched in to make things work the way they’re supposed to.”

Borchert said it was initially considered to run the new track around the previous location of the football field but since that was so close to the gravel road, that was eliminated as a possibility. No matter the case, Borchert said the school wanted a new track anyway to give the team more comfortable arrangements after their recent run of success.

The Indians’ boys track team won four straight district titles from 2015-18 and back-to-back state titles in 2017-18 with a gravel track. Josh Hodde was a Class 1 state champion in the 110- and the 300-meter hurdles in 2018, and Borchert remembers how Hodde had to practice back then after he finished baseball practice.

“Our kids used to jump hurdles in the hallways at the high school,” Borchert said. “That’s how they practiced. We know that our track team has a lot of potential, and it’s just something that desperately needs to done.”

Borchert said along with the track, Van-Far will have new places for discus, shot put, javelin, long jump, triple jump, pole vault and high jump.

It will be easier now the football and softball fields won’t have to share space with each other, Borchert said, as the softball outfield was the 50-yard line on the football field. To keep practices separated, she said the school had to put up a portable tent fence, which she also as the head softball coach will not miss.

“Setting up a tent fence is terrible because it comes in like 25 different pieces,” Borchert said. “You have to put it up and stake it down. The wind would blow it over if it was a windy day. Then you have to take it down that very night so they could get ready for the (football) game. It will be nice for our girls program to have their own space.”

Speaking of space, Borchert said she is also looking forward to fitting her entire team of 18-25 players in the dugout.

Since softball and football are both in the fall season, Borchert said there are contingency locations for practices and games if the renovations aren’t done in time. Practices begin August 8 so softball can always practice and play at the city fields at South School Park in Vandalia and football practices on a different field so the team wouldn’t need the playing surface until August 26 against South Callaway. If the football field isn’t done in time, those games could be changed to away games, if necessary.

“I was told by the superintendent, who was told by the contractors, that it would be playable by August,” Borchert said. “Missouri weather conditions aren’t always the best. They said it should be playable so that’s what I’m going with that we will be ready to roll by August.

“It’s been a long time coming for Van-Far’s athletics to have a facelift. We are very appreciative to anyone and everyone that has made it possible.”