New Lonoke facility hypes up the Jackrabbits’ fall season

September 2-8, 2013

Becca Bona

There’s nothing quite like giving back to your alma mater, and Gina Cox Wirelak did so in a big way for Lonoke High School. 

In 2007 Wirelak and her husband Jim made a pledge to donate $1 million dollars to the creation of a sports facility. Wirelak played basketball for the Lady Jackrabbits, and graduated in 1997. 

Six years later the facility is finally open and ready to see some action. The excitement was contagious, according to an article that ran in the Lonoke Democrat during the grand opening of the facility on Aug. 10. 

The Wirelaks were guests of honor, and Gina described the finished product as nothing short of “beautiful.” 

Lonoke is currently making great strides in secondary education. Recent projects have led to a completely new high school facility in order to keep with the state code. This caused the Gina Cox Center to take the backburner, and explains the six year wait between the Wirelak’s pledge and the finished product. 

However, in 2011 the Lonoke School District approved a millage increase to fund the lagging construction with a 74 percent margin. 

The ground was broken in the spring of 2012, and this fall, the Jackrabbits will have a new place to call home. 

In terms of design, both the high school and center reflect the details of the Lonoke High School’s original 1928 building. For example, the triple-arch entry facing Academy Street still stands, along with the familiar flagpole and graduates’ walk way.

The new high school boasts of more than 30 classroom areas that cover two stories and 74,000 square feet. In looking toward the future, the building is easily adaptable to technological changes that will inevitably arise.

The center aims to provide the amenities necessary for high school sports, as well as to connect the community. With seating for 2,000 spanning two levels, the arena overlooks a regulation-size, wood-floor basketball court. In addition to this, there is a full cafeteria, a band room, theatre facilities, locker rooms, laundry, and concession areas. 

Wirelak, community leaders, athletes, and coaches agree –the facility is about sharing and opening up the community. 

Sources: http://lonokenews.net/lonoke-democrat/news/local/gina-cox-center-comes-life.html, http://lonokenews.net/lonoke-democrat/news/local/gina-cox-center-taking-shape.html