Seton High School marked a milestone Wednesday with the ceremonial groundbreaking of its ambitious $16 million sports complex on Klemme Drive in Delhi Township, Ohio. The comprehensive facility represents years of planning and community collaboration to provide enhanced athletic opportunities for the all-girls institution.
State-of-the-Art Facilities Coming to West Side
The expansive complex will feature a multipurpose turf field designed for soccer, lacrosse, and flag football competition. Additional amenities include a regulation outdoor track, tennis courts, pickleball courts, dedicated training facilities, and a modern press box to accommodate spectators and media coverage.
According to Seton High School President Kathy Allen Ciarla, the project has been in development since 2019, with the school overcoming multiple setbacks before securing the current location. The breakthrough came when local property owners collaborated with the school to make the vision reality.
“We’ve been working on this since 2019, we had deals that fell through,” Allen Ciarla explained. “I feel God played a role in this when we found this land. One of the homeowners was looking to move and she helped us acquire a lot of her property.”
Addressing Long-Standing Athletic Challenges
The new complex directly addresses ongoing challenges the school has faced in securing adequate practice and competition venues. This has been particularly impactful for Seton’s successful soccer program, which has reached the state tournament three consecutive years despite lacking a dedicated home field.
“We run around trying to find fields for them. And our soccer team has been to state the past three years, we won the one year without our own turf field,” Allen Ciarla noted, emphasizing how the facility will provide stability for the athletic programs.
Expanding Access Beyond High School
The school plans to extend access to younger female athletes throughout the community, opening the facility to elementary school teams and select/AAU programs. This initiative aligns with the school’s mission to create more opportunities for girls in athletics at all levels.
“We want grade schoolgirls. I want them to play games under the lights. The select and AAU teams, we want to give them opportunities,” Allen Ciarla stated.
Student Excitement for Enhanced Training
Current students are anticipating the upgraded facilities, which will include advanced training equipment not available in the existing setup. Senior Lydia Johnson highlighted several improvements students are looking forward to experiencing.
“There’s going to be a golf simulator, an amazing weight room which will be a huge upgrade from what we have. It’s going to be so cool to play on the Friday night lights and to look up and see the Seton sign,” Johnson shared.
Timeline and Community Impact
The Seton Sports Complex is scheduled to open for the 2026 fall athletic season, giving the school approximately two years to complete construction and preparation. The facility represents a significant investment in girls’ athletics on Cincinnati’s west side and demonstrates the school’s commitment to providing competitive athletic opportunities.
The project stands as a testament to community cooperation and the school’s dedication to empowering female athletes with professional-grade facilities that match their competitive achievements and aspirations.
Original article: Groundbreaking ceremony held for West Side girls school’s $16M sports complex – Local 12 News
