Those who know high school football in Mississippi have come to expect Picayune to be among the elite on the gridiron.
After all, the Maroon Tide has captured four state championships in the last 12 years, including back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022.
With that success come annual expectations of developing the top talent to compete for state titles.
Picayune will soon have a state-of-the-art facility to mold those players at Lee-Triplett Stadium.
Coach Cody Stogner is hoping the new 10,000-square-foot field house will be complete by August.
“We were real crammed in the weight room, so we outgrew it in that aspect,” said Stogner. “I felt that the program deserved to have the best due to the success over the past 20-plus years.”
Stogner said the football program has continued to grow each year and it was time for a new facility, which will be at the stadium.
“It’s got a lot bigger weight room, film room, and training room,” said Stogner. “We are also going to be able to house junior high and ninth grade as well.”
Stogner, who was a standout lineman for the Maroon Tide, said there is no comparison between the new facility and the one they will be leaving later this summer.
“I always loved our stadium in how it’s unique,” said Stogner. “When I played, we thought we had the best of everything, and we are just trying to continue that trend of providing our student-athletes with the best.”
The current field house is going to be renovated and become the new band hall for the Pride of the Tide, according to Stogner.
Stogner said the athletic program is blessed with administrators who also believe it was time to upgrade the facility, including athletic director Adam Feely, school district superintendent Dean Shaw, assistant superintendent Walt Esslinger, and principal Kristi Mitchell.
“I believe we are one of the best programs in the state and to have all the upgrades is definitely rewarding,” said Stogner. “Without all of them and the school board, this wouldn’t be possible.”
Getting a new field house also wouldn’t be possible without all the current and past Picayune athletes and coaches who contributed over the years to the success of the program, Stogner said.
“The addition of the new field house is credited to the current and former players and coaches and all their hard work and dedication to making this one of the best programs in the state,” he said.
