The Observation Deck

This is purely hearsay. I haven't done any fact checking, but it smells true to me.

On the day before their first ever match for a district championship the LHS Boys Varsity soccer team was forced OFF THEIR PRACTICE FIELD by the visiting Westlake team.

It seems the Westlake team had rented Lakewood Stadium for $1000 during the same time that the LHS boys regular practice time.

I heard that Westlake rented the field from the Rec. Dept. (Erin Fach) and the Lkwd. Varsity was forced to use the baseball outfield to practice.

Further, when the Lakewood boys tried to use the goals, they were taken away as well--seems they were Recreation Dept. property.

As the Rangers overcame the bureaucratic slight and defeated Westlake 3-0 on the way to the first Boys Varsity District Championship in school history, the Lakewood students could be heard chanting "Waste of Money!!!" to the Westlake bench.

If this is true, the $1000 should be entirely earmarked for soccer improvements, as the Rec. Dept. would not have even had the opportunity to rent the field if not for the valiant efforts of our Boys Soccer squad.

Only in Lakewood?!

Don't expect an answer from the Rec Dept on that one. I have worked for the Rec Dept and Lakewood Schools for 23 years. Started when I was 13 and did every job imaginable for them, most recently coaching middle school football. That all came to an end this year. When the football season started I called the Rec to see why I had not been asked to coach. Erin Fach wouldn't return or answer a call for two weeks. When he finally did he offered no reason or explanation at all. This would have been my 16th season as a coach in that program, producing more varsity players for Lakewood than any other coach. If they don't respect what I've done for all these years then I think you'll be waiting quite a while for your answer.

Sounds too weird to be true....

Why would Westlake need to rent a practice field from Lakewood?

Isn't Westlake one of those places with lots of extra green space, and where stereotypical soccer moms put soccer balls into the kids' cribs once they come home from the delivery room?

Why would they come all the way to crowded old Lakewood to practice?

Actually, it's not uncommon for teams to rent Lakewood's turf to practice on. Teams with grass home fields practice there to help them get the feel of the turf. As the high school football season comes to an end take a look at the field as you drive by, teams that have playoff games on turf will be up there practicing.