Westside High School, Anderson, SC

Westside High School Rams

      Westside High School is the crosstown rival of TL Hanna High School.  They play at Westside Stadium (formally known as District 5 Stadium).  Although their success on the football field hasn't been great recently, they play in one of my favorite stadiums.  TL Hanna and Westside start and finish their seasons with each other.  The first game does not count in the region standings but the last game of the year does.  Westside is in the 4-A classification of the SCHSL.  

 

Home stands

      The home stands are concrete with metal bleachers on top, which is probably the best look, in my eyes, for a high school stadium.  It adds more character and its more sturdy.  The stadium is built into a hill and you walk down into the seats which is also pretty cool because you're able to see the game while walking to your seats.  On the bottom level of the press box there are restrooms and a concessions area.  This picture was taken from the walkway at the entrance gates to the visitors side of the field.

Visitor stands

     The visitors stands are oddly configured with only 3/4 of the hill covered in concrete bleachers (I'm guessing they left the other hill open for children to play on, because I know I did when I was a child since Hanna and Westside shared this stadium for quite some time).  There are bathroom and concessions areas for the visitors in the those two buildings behind the stands.  For the visiting fans you can't walk below the stands and get to your seats but you can walk through the stands or down from above.

Scoreboard with scrolling message board

Ticket gates

     I'm not a Westside fan at all, but these next few pictures show why I think this setting makes Westside Stadium one of my favorites.

View from walk way to visitors side of the field

View from end zone

     I couldn't back up enough to get both sides in the picture, but you understand what I'm trying to do here.  I love stadiums that are built in a bowl.  To me it adds to the atmosphere, the lights shine brighter and everything just seems more intense.  I'd never pull for Westside, but the stadium was always fun to go to once a year for tailgating and fun times. 

Vestavia Hills High School, Birmingham, AL

Vestavia Hills Rebels

     I visited Vestavia Hills High School while visiting my sister at Samford University.  Tonya was along for this trip as well and these pictures are from her camera.  Vestavia is in the 6-A classification of Alabama sports and has an enrollment around 1,250 (which seems small for a 6A school, however the smallest enrollment for a 6A school in Alabama is 744).  There are a lot of medium sized high schools located in Alabama, you would think there would be a better way to split up the largest division, but nothing can be perfect (not saying Vestavia shouldn't be in 6A, but 744 seems small for the largest classification). Vestavia is located right outside Birmingham on the mountain (or large hills if-you-will).  It is a gorgeous community and a great looking high school from an aesthetic point of view.

Home stands

      The home stands are pretty neat in my opinion, except for the fact that there is no middle entrance to the stands.  It is pretty large and the VH blue and red seats in the middle are a unique touch.  The press box is great and I'm sure there are concessions and bathrooms on the bottom level.  The stadium sort of sits in this valley up against the side of the hill where the home stands are located and it has the feeling of a great atmosphere when that place is full.

Visitors stands

     The visitors stands compliment the home stands very well.  It is shorter but the same width, which to me is the way it should be.  There are plenty of seats available for the bigger schools coming in, although I'm sure it looks pretty empty when the smaller schools come to visit.  Also I'm sure it is pretty intimidating to be standing over on the visiting sidelines looking up at that home side (the home side sitting on a hill has a daunting effect and makes it seem huge).  I love the field goal posts with the double support, it's kind of old school.  The entrance is great and if I remember correctly there are also entrance gates on the visitors side.  The lights are supported by big metal poles and they aren't just situated on the sidelines of the field but also along the corners of the field.
     There are a few more stadiums from Birmingham that I will profile in the coming weeks: Hoover, Wenonah and Mountain Brook.  I'm hoping to get in John Carroll Catholic High School at some point.  I loved taking a look at Vestavia Hills, not only because it's a great high school football stadium, but it's also a great town.    

The Westfield School, Perry, GA

The Westfield School Hornets

     I came across The Westfield School on a trip to south Georgia.  I was able to get in because the softball coach was there cleaning up the field, normally the gate is shut, so I got lucky and was able to take a few pictures before he left.  The school itself is very pretty and is located in Perry, Ga. (I will be profiling Perry High School in a few days). The Westfield School has an enrollment of 570 students (PK-12) and is a 3-A member of the Georgia Independent Schools Association.

Home stands

    The neat thing about this stadium is that the stands are wooden.  I'm not sure if the whole thing is made of only wood, but a large portion of it is.  It is a smaller stadium, but that is fine for a smaller school, especially when the visitors stands are just as big.  The added hedges around the field give it a nice touch.  I'm wondering if they were just recently planted or they trim them back to keep it shorter (I'd like to see them a little taller; maybe thats just the Georgia fan coming out in me).  The press box is a really good size and gives coaches plenty of room to observe the game from above (although one set of coaches are probably in the same room with the radio team if there is one).  Overall it is a very nice set of stands for the home fans.

Visitors stands, and Tonya doing the Heisman pose (or something like it haha)

     Very standard set of bleachers for the visiting fans.  No press box, which is a deviation from several of the previous stadiums profiled, but it is plenty of room for fans to mingle around and spread out.  It is a decent walk over to the other side of the stadium, and there are no concessions located near them.  Another noticeable characteristic of this stadium are the wooden poles that the lights are on.  That's a first for the blog!

Great scoreboard, and wonderful support from a lot of local businesses

Back of the home stands, and concessions area

     I was very glad that the softball coach was at the school when I drove by, it was right off the road I was traveling and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to take a few pictures.  It was very interesting to see the wood-look of this stadium and it's always fun to get the chance to get out there on the field.