Spearman makes upgrades to athletic facilities, honors fallen hero

Spearman ISD completed the new Sgt. Cameron Alexander Meddock Memorial Weight Room and Field House this summer. [Ben Jenkins/ Press Pass Sports]

Anyone visiting Spearman’s football facilities of late had to take notice of the much needed facelift.

Thanks to approved maintenance tax notes by the Spearman ISD school board three years ago, the Lynx athletic program now sees a state of the art field house, as well as a brand new turf football playing surface.

“This is amazing,” Spearman athletic director and head football coach Aaron Witten said. “I grew up here, and the old field house was out of date when I was in high school. It’s nice to be able to give our athletes nice things.”

Spearman’s brand new weight room is used by all athletic programs. [Ben Jenkins/ Press Pass Sports]

The new facility sees a massive weight room that doubles the size of the old weight room. There are two coaching offices, a film room, two training rooms and three locker rooms. One locker room for the varsity football team with state of the art lockers, a JV football locker room and a girls cross country/ track and field locker room.

“As far as a field house goes, the conditions weren’t good with the old one,” Spearman superintendent Dan Gist said. “This field house was long over due. Same with the field turf. If it rained our teams couldn’t practice, or we played in mud. We don’t want our kids to be at a disadvantage. This helps the band, and it’s just all around great for everyone.”

Witten agreed.

“The best thing is every athletic program can use the facility,” Witten said. “Especially the weight room. Same with the new field turf. It is for everyone in athletics. Getting these new facilities benefits everyone. It keeps coaches around, it gives the kids something to take pride in. It breeds excitement.”

Sgt. Cameron A. Meddock’s photo and personal workout will hang in the Spearman weight room. [Ben Jenkins/ Press Pass Sports]

Fittingly and most importantly, Spearman made the decision to remember one of its own naming the new facility after fallen hero and former standout athlete, Cameron Meddock.

Sgt. Cameron A. Meddock graduated from Spearman in 2011. He died on Jan. 17, 2019 at the age of 26 serving his country in Landstuhl, Germany, as a result of wounds sustained from small arms fire, in Badghis Province, Afghanistan while serving with Company A, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

Meddock will never be forgotten for his sacrifice. To show honor to Meddock and his family Spearman ISD not only named the field house after the hometown hero, but they will have a locker in his name, his picture will hang in the weight room and the football team will carry on his grueling cross fit style workout he did on a daily regiment.

“Cameron was a true hero,” Witten said. “His story and what he did for our country is important to the community. His stories were unbelievable, and when they had his funeral here you can tell how much he was loved and honored by the amount of people that came to pay their respect. He sacrificed way more than any of us ever have. It was a true honor to name this new field house after him.”

Meddock’s mother, Vicki Nickel, is humbled to see her son’s memory live on. Nickel says not a moment passes she doesn’t think or miss her son, but to see him live on in spirit is a true blessing.

“I love this community,” Nickel said. “I love the the Texas Panhandle. To see all the support Cameron has gotten is incredible. It started out with scholarship the school did for him. They planted three trees for his wife Stevie, his daughter Brinley and Cameron out in front of the school. Now it’s the field house. I’m just in shock of how much people care and show respect to Cameron. It’s a privilege to be an American and learn stories of people who sacrificed to remember their names. It’s been amazing to see. I always want his memory to be alive.”

Meddock is survived by his wife, Stevie, and their 2-year old daughter, Brinley.

Meddock’s awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, the Joint Service Commendation for Combat, the Army Achievement Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star, the Ranger Tab, the Parachutist Badge, the Expert Infantryman Badge and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

The Lynx opens the home schedule on its brand new field turf hosting Sanford-Fritch for Homecoming on Sept. 3, at 7 p.m.