As the 2025-2026 school year kicks off, KHS has many exciting additions to enhance the lives of student athletes. One of the most anticipated improvements is the introduction of a new team room, designed for strategic game plans. This room will provide athletes and coaches with a comfortable environment in which to connect and build strong relationships and dynamics within the team.

Before this year, KHS had a sports team room, which was mainly used by the boys’ teams like football and soccer. Other teams had limited access to the room due to the high volume of participation in seasonal sports. As a result, many athletes did not have a designated place to plan and strategize around games and practices. Now, with the addition of a brand-new sports team room in the former athletic training office, every team sport has a place to call home.

“There is a second team room that is primarily used by our boys’ programs right off the boys’ locker room; adding a second room allows teams to have additional space,” said Athletic Director Shirah Wittwer.

Although the new team room is still undergoing construction, teams can still access it for brief meetings and discussions. After the renovation of the room, it will be an ideal space to watch games, practice footage, analyze plays, and develop winning strategies. This will allow players to identify areas of improvement and celebrate successes as a team. 

“Right now, we’ve just been able to move some things around to create a little space in the back for the team to meet. Hopefully, over the winter, we can turn it into a space that’s more open, comfortable, and conducive to a team atmosphere—with things like furniture, a TV, and lockers,” said physical education teacher and volleyball head coach Stephanie Finke.

Furthermore, anticipation for the team room renovation has built excitement in the athletic community, with many players and coaches sharing ideas to enhance the team room. For example, junior tennis player Eva Rosenfeld said, “I am really excited for the new team room because I feel like it will allow our team to be able to relax more and spend time together privately.”

While the team room is centered on game plans and strategizing, it is also an area where teams can relax and prepare for important games. “For the volleyball team, we’ve loved having this space so far. Before and after games, we meet in the team room to go over goals and strategies. The girls use it to get pumped up and excited before running out onto the court,” said Finke. 

The new team room has sparked excitement and positive feedback from athletes across the school. Junior volleyball player Jordyn Zilocchi states, “The sports team room helps my team by allowing us to settle and discuss what we need to get on before the game. By having an enclosed area, the team can communicate without external factors that create distractions.”