Leaving a legacy, athletes past and present continue to excel at Latrobe. The school hallways are lined with portraits, a new TV, and accomplishments. A new addition to the gym lobby has been around for a short while but has not failed to turn heads.
The new mural behind the gym’s TV showcases Greater Latrobe athletes past and present. The athletes on the wall represent the scholar-athlete legacy of Greater Latrobe.
Former athletic director Zac Heide brought this generational mural to life by coming up with the plan to install the memorable backdrop. He was also in charge of adding the new TV to the commons as well as being a big part of the gym renovation. His work has no doubt been putting Latrobe on the top of the charts.
Amanda Wolfe brought the creative vision to life. “The former athletic director, Zac Heide, reached out about working on this to go with the new digital screen and brighten up the wall. This year, I wanted to compile athletes from previous years. I also wanted to focus on athletes from recent years as well as include athletes from the ‘50s and ’60s,” shared Wolfe.
Latrobe’s interior has taken on a new look that easily impresses everyone. Junior Miley Williams states, “I think the mural is a great way to show the way these athletes have accomplished so much for themselves and our school.”
An athlete who is showcased represents the hard work and achievements of athletes throughout the years. “I think it is an honor that an athlete is featured on the mural. I wanted to try to focus on athletes that did well at Latrobe and make sure they are there. Some people have had great success, and I wanted to showcase the most famous and standout players,” shares Wolfe.
“There were some great athletes here, and I just wanted to be able to recognize them. When I was picking them, I wanted to pick some popular ones, such as Arnold Palmer. He was so successful, and I also wanted to include Natalie Bower, who graduated in 2010 and was very successful in track and field. Also, I chose the Butler brothers because I knew all of them had great success in basketball. I also wanted to include athletes from a variety of sports to make everyone feel represented,” said Wolfe.
Senior volleyball player Mia Meyers was shocked but excited to be included. “I think it is cool to be a part of something that will be in the school for years to come,” she said.
The mural includes a mix of action and team photos of 36 athletes in black and white. The images represent the different sports that show Latrobe’s versatility and success.
Many committed athletes are also displayed on the mural. Senior football player John Wetzel is committed to Marshall University and was happy to find himself on the mural. “I think it’s pretty cool to see myself and people I know on the wall for excelling in athletics. And I believe that by being on the wall, it will leave an impact for future teams to come.”
The mural creates a sort of campus in the gymnasium area. “I think it shouts out athletes and could eventually become motivation for some. I would think when I was in high school if I saw that I would think it’s cool and want to be on it. It is cool to be able to showcase different sports from different years, and it represents Latrobe sports in such a great way,” shares Wolfe.
The mural undoubtedly makes every athlete feel included and represented in a special way. Latrobe sports get their spotlight to make each athlete feel important and honored for all of their hard work through pep rallies, athletic parades, display cases overflowing with awards, and now a mural that portrays the athleticism found at Greater Latrobe.
