Kinzels not happy with SCCS move

SANDUSKY — Local philanthropists who contributed to Strobel Field's turf upgrade aren't pleased with St. Mary Central Catholic moving its home football games to Perkins Township. The Panthers played their first game of the season Saturday against Danbury at Perkins High School's stadium, a first for the program. Strobel Field, for many years, was shared by Sandusky Central Catholic and Sandusky schools' football and track and field programs. But last year, when Sandusky Schools adopted a new facility fee schedule and wanted to charge SCCS more to use the stadium than in past years, the decades-old relationship between the schools collapsed. The new fees forced SCCS to find new facilities for swimming and track and field, which they found at Perkins Schools. This year, SCCS and Perkins agreed on a $1,500 charge per football game for five games, and $1,500 for track practices with the option to host one track meet at Perkins' Firelands Regional Medical Center Field. Football games for both schools will occur on different days to avoid conflicts. Judy Kinzel, wife of retired Cedar Point CEO and president Dick Kinzel, shared her disappointment with the situation with the Register. The Kinzels have been known for their philanthropy to area organizations in recent years. In 2010, when Dick Kinzel was the amusement park's top official, Cedar Point contributed $500,000 to the artificial turf project. The project, spearheaded by Sandusky athletic boosters, needed $750,000 total to install the turf. The Wightman-Wieber Foundation gave $150,000, and donations poured in from other fundraising sources. "Dick and I personally donated for the state-of-the-art scoreboard," Judy said. "This was all done with the promise that St. Mary Central Catholic High School would share the stadium, their name is on the scoreboard. Not sure if there was a contract or a hand shake, but the agreement was SMCC would pay a reasonable amount for maintaining Strobel Field." She thanked Perkins Schools for supporting Sandusky Central Catholic. "It's just sad for the young athletes who just couldn't wait to play at the historic Strobel Field at Cedar Point Stadium," Judy said. Sandusky Schools responds Superintendent Eugene Sanders thanked the Kinzel family for their contributions to the district. "We value our history and appreciate everyone who has helped to maintain and enhance the facility over the decades," he said. Strobel Field was dedicated in 1936 and was constructed through the Work Progress Administration program created by President Franklin Roosevelt, part of the New Deal. Sanders said he wasn't aware of an existing long-term agreement with Sandusky Central Catholic using Strobel Field. "I would imagine that if such an agreement existed, we would have discussed it during the six-month dialogue we had with the SCCS group regarding using our field," he said. But Sanders didn't say if Sandusky officials will review the previous facilities agreement with Sandusky Central Catholic in the future. He explained the previous fee schedule for district facilities stayed the same for 10 years, so officials looked at similar agreements locally and around Ohio before the board agreed on the current facilities rental rates last year. Last school year, Sandusky Schools proposed to charge SCCS about $30,000 for facilities usage for football, swimming and track. "It is my responsibility to establish and maintain fiscal leadership of our organization as it relates to the operation and management of the district," Sanders said. Sandusky Schools hasn't garnered interest from area schools about renting Strobel Field for athletics, but any district can lease the property. "Any football team that wishes to use Strobel Field will have to abide by our board-approved financial guidelines regarding our fee structure and cost," Sanders said. The St. Mary Central Catholic High School Panther logo and others will remain on the turf at Strobel Field. In reaction to Sandusky Central Catholic's decision, Sanders gave well wishes to student athletes at the SCCS and all area schools. "I believe that sports help to build character, discipline and teamwork," he said. Reach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com and follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood