November 2, 2022

The hoops are back up at L.P. Waters after two mechanically gifted high school students fixed the bent metal frames, put on a fresh coat of paint and replaced the nets. 

"Our little basketball goals were in terrible condition, and we had fixed them for years with duct tape, but it had gone too far, so I called over to the high school, and they said they'd fix them for us," L.P. Waters Principal Melissa Yost said. "They look better than new!" 

As soon as the hoops appeared in the gym, the preschoolers grabbed the balls and started shooting and even slam dunking.

"They bring an extra level of joy to our kids because they are designed to be perfect for their height," Yost said, dodging a bouncing ball. 

Greenville High School seniors Daniel Pitts and Anika Escobar, both leaders on the Iron Lions Solar Car team, said the project was a breeze compared to their usual engineering work. 

"We're used to working on the solar car, which takes so much time and precision. This took almost no time, and it was like instant gratification for us," Daniel said, adding that the entire project took only five hours. 

Anika remembers playing basketball in the gym as a preschooler at L.P. Waters. 

"This was definitely a sentimental project for me," she said. "We got to tour the campus, and everything looks so small to me now. My mother worked here, too, and I always loved playing in this gym. It was great to come back." 

Yost nodded in agreement, saying sometimes, "you just have to ask for help when the duct tape won't get the job done any longer, and we got to talk about old memories, too." 

GHS automotive mechanics instructor George Kroncke said he was proud of his students for giving back. 

"The kids were really excited to help, and we got to come over and tour the campus and see our littlest lions," he said. "These frames are sturdy. They're better than what you can find today, and to order new is expensive. It's great to see them back in the gym where they belong." 

GHS automotive mechanics instructor George Kroncke, GHS seniors Daniel Pitts and Anika Escobar and L.P. Waters Principal Melissa Yost.