Galax's Advantage ??

[Chilwar25]

Galax will be playing on new artifical turf next year, apparently thanks to the City of Galax.
That is good news to the Tide and Coach Dixon who wanted a new playing surface for his
Team.
Galax has the advantage of being the only school the city has to fund. Unlike most county
Schools in SWVA that have 2-4 schools to fund, Galax has just the one school. Most schools
Struggle just to pay the teachers salary, and some haven't seen a raise in years, but that is not
The case at the city school. Galax is lucky to have funds for such a project. Do they have an
Advantage over county schools? Well they sure have funds county schools do not have.
Being a former school board member in a county system that served 3 high schools, if you
Improved a schools facility, you better do the same of all, or be prepared to catch hell from
The other schools. Galax doesn't have to worry about that. It just like having a Recreation
Center. Most county systems do not have Rec Centers in each town, but Galax does. Town
Councils can not afford Rec Centers, heck most just want good running water. Most don't
Even have swimming pools.
So does the City of Galax provide their school an advantage? Well you decide.

 

[hokie0015]

Galax will be playing on new artifical turf next year, apparently thanks to the City of Galax.
That is good news to the Tide and Coach Dixon who wanted a new playing surface for his
Team.
Galax has the advantage of being the only school the city has to fund. Unlike most county
Schools in SWVA that have 2-4 schools to fund, Galax has just the one school. Most schools
Struggle just to pay the teachers salary, and some haven't seen a raise in years, but that is not
The case at the city school. Galax is lucky to have funds for such a project. Do they have an
Advantage over county schools? Well they sure have funds county schools do not have.
Being a former school board member in a county system that served 3 high schools, if you
Improved a schools facility, you better do the same of all, or be prepared to catch hell from
The other schools. Galax doesn't have to worry about that. It just like having a Recreation
Center. Most county systems do not have Rec Centers in each town, but Galax does. Town
Councils can not afford Rec Centers, heck most just want good running water. Most don't
Even have swimming pools.
So does the City of Galax provide their school an advantage? Well you decide.

It should be noted Galax City Public Schools has three (HS, Middle, and Elementary) school to fund. However your point remains the same.

That said, Galax does not have a baseball field. They use the cities, which is still all dirt. Softball uses city facilities as well. Galax has also been very succesful in soccer, and this addition is certainly not "just" a football move. It will help on all fronts.

Not sure who exactly is funding the transition, but Galax has always had a very supportive community and a VERY active athletic booster club.

 

[hokie0015]

To further build on your point - - I think city schools at the single a level have a much higher chance of athletic success. I mean look at the athletic powers in single a.. Galax, GW, JIB, Radford, PM to an extent. PM is Buena Vista not Rockbridge. JIB is Norton NOT wise. GW is Wythe County however is central to the district and can pull from the other two districts if the student chooses to do so.

The advantages population wise are clear. Funding wise it makes sense too.

 

[Wingo-Dingo]

Galax will be playing on new artifical turf next year, apparently thanks to the City of Galax.
That is good news to the Tide and Coach Dixon who wanted a new playing surface for his
Team.
Galax has the advantage of being the only school the city has to fund. Unlike most county
Schools in SWVA that have 2-4 schools to fund, Galax has just the one school. Most schools
Struggle just to pay the teachers salary, and some haven't seen a raise in years, but that is not
The case at the city school. Galax is lucky to have funds for such a project. Do they have an
Advantage over county schools? Well they sure have funds county schools do not have.
Being a former school board member in a county system that served 3 high schools, if you
Improved a schools facility, you better do the same of all, or be prepared to catch hell from
The other schools. Galax doesn't have to worry about that. It just like having a Recreation
Center. Most county systems do not have Rec Centers in each town, but Galax does. Town
Councils can not afford Rec Centers, heck most just want good running water. Most don't
Even have swimming pools.
So does the City of Galax provide their school an advantage? Well you decide.

Well, why can't they spend a little and put in some visitor seating. Probably least and worst visitor seating in the area

 

[Chilwar25]

Hokie0015, That was my point. City Schools don't have near the finicial responsibility of county
Systems, therefore being able to provide for their students at a much higher level. They can draw
From nearby counties to keep their ADM at a high rate, thereby getting State dollars for their
City Schools to match City dollars.
I would think that they do not have the political problems county systems face either. Small
County 1A schools will always face an uphill battle when it comes to competing with city
Run schools. Resources with county systems are scarce, especially in hard economic times.
Tax dollars are mainly from residential sources.
The only way county run school systems could provide resources near the level city run
Systems can would be through consolidation, thereby making them 2A in most cases.
Best of luck to Galax. You folks my not realize that you are in a great situation, compared
To most county school systems. In other words, you can have your cake, and eat it too!

 

[Chilwar25]

Just one more point; if you are a City Council member in Galax, vote to fund the request from
Coach Dixon and the School System of Galax. No one can go wrong by providing good facilities
To our youth. If upgrades are needed, fix them, and do not spare no expense. Things will
Always cost more down the road and no one wants our youth competing where injuries
May occur. Use common sense in providing for your children, and the adults that teach
Them. If you have the resources, use them for your youth; you can never go wrong by
Spending money on children. Best of luck Galax!

 

[Fundamentals_101]

Haven't logged on in years but scrolling through some posts id like to comment on some threads starting with this one.

Galax's advantage is Coach Dixon 90% more than anything else. It's simple as that.
He took over the program in 2010.
Galax has had maybe 2 winning seasons in the previous 10-15 years. Maybe even longer. And never competed on a state title level in decades if ever. Not a historically great program by any means.
He took Galax to 9 wins his first year, 2nd year state title appearance and undefeated 14-0 before falling to Clintwood in a classic title game. He has won 8 or more games every year since he has been at Galax. Winning the schools first state title last year. When he took over Galax had a pushover non district schedule from previous AD to just schedule wins and rightfully so.. quickly after Dixon got his hands all over this small town football program, he began scheduling and powerhouse established program that would agree to play Galax. Now they have one of if not the toughest strength of schedule year in, year out.
Times have gone from trying to schedule sure wins just to creep close to a .500 season, to winning quickly, to scheduling the best of the best year in, year out(Altavista, glenvar, gW's, Radford, Giles to name names). And now this "Galax football program" is a perennial powerhouse in 1A riding a 15 game win streak that spans over a calendar year. That includes wins over Graham, Essex, Riverheads, Glenvar, George Wythe, And Giles. Of those each has a historically powerful programs.
so to the point you made that Galax local Rec Center is the reason Galax has an advantage... please.... Coach Mark Dixon is Galax'a advantage and the reason for the rise to a perennial 1A powerhouse.

 

[MT FAN 91]

Well, why can't they spend a little and put in some visitor seating. Probably least and worst visitor seating in the area

The bleachers aren't that bad but they need more of them.

 

[Fundamentals_101]

Galax is a great place to watch a high school football game and with the hill wrap around to both sides so many more people can watch not limited to the bleachers.

I do agree that the field is one of the worst surfaces around right now.

Visiting bleachers also leave a lot to be desired. Need twice or three times as many as they have. That doesn't seem like a hard fix.

Now thefield on the other hand has had some unexpected dilemmas as far as getting the field upgraded.

 

[Fundamentals_101]

But again... as quickly has Galax gas risen over the past 7 years these are issues that just didn't matter before to anyone. Football wasn't a priority of any kind. Crowds were never an issue really either. Now everyone wants to come to a road game to see their team play Galax. Casual Galax residents come up for the games on Friday night. The place is packed regularly. This just was never the case for 10-15-20+ years before Dixon took this program over.

It's truly amazing how the culture has changed over the past 7 years.

Great for the kids above all else, and just great for the community.

 

[MT FAN 91]

But again... as quickly has Galax gas risen over the past 7 years these are issues that just didn't matter before to anyone. Football wasn't a priority of any kind. Crowds were never an issue really either. Now everyone wants to come to a road game to see their team play Galax. Casual Galax residents come up for the games on Friday night. The place is packed regularly. This just was never the case for 10-15-20+ years before Dixon took this program over.

It's truly amazing how the culture has changed over the past 7 years.

Great for the kids above all else, and just great for the community.

The last time Galax had crowds like we see now was when coach Aldermen was here in the 80's. They were contenders back then but not like they are now.

 

[Chilwar25]

Hey guys, I can remember too when Chilhowie used to play Galax. You could see
All the talent Galax had on the field, but there was something missing that you
Couldn't put your finger on that Galax just was not getting the most out of all
That talent. I certainly agree that your Coach has brought a lot to the table at
Galax. But like it has been said, Galax has a lot of things going for them that other
Communities can only dream of having. Best of luck, Tide!

 

[Fundamentals_101]

Sure, definitely can agree that having one school for the city to keep happy versus say Wythe County for example with 3 schools(George Wythe, Rural Retreat, Fort Chiswell) the county has to keep up to snuff is something that makes things different for Galax Schools. I'm not completely sold on how much that helps performance on the field.

Hey guys, I can remember too when Chilhowie used to play Galax. You could see
All the talent Galax had on the field, but there was something missing that you
Couldn't put your finger on that Galax just was not getting the most out of all
That talent. I certainly agree that your Coach has brought a lot to the table at
Galax. But like it has been said, Galax has a lot of things going for them that other
Communities can only dream of having. Best of luck, Tide!