Late on Wednesday night, August 28th, students from Lenoir City High School took it upon themselves to try and catch kids from the opposing school trying to vandalize the field. A so-called tradition that happens every year that leaves our field trashed. The students just happened to see the vandalists leaving the school and tried to catch them but sadly failed. The students knew that the vandalists take it to the extreme every year but no one would have guessed how far they would take it. The significant and intended provocative damage has left Lenoir City High School students and faculty members dealing with the aftermath of the most bitter rivalry.
Junior Logan Moore, one of the students who tried to stop the vandalism, expressed his deep frustration.
“I was definitely and deeply affected by this; emotions were ruining wild. Seeing all the vandalism that they had done really sparked a flame in me to really want to beat Loudon,” Moore said.
Although no suspects have been identified yet, authorities are looking into the incident, and it is commonly believed that it has something to do with the Battle of the Bridge the next day. Mayor Tony Atkins even released a statement saying that anyone with information from that night could be rewarded with two hundred and fifty dollars. The damage includes offensive graffiti on the school rock, the press box windows, and the baseball team’s banner, as well as vandalized security cameras and food thrown into the football stands, which will cost thousands of dollars to repair. Hunter Click (10), who was present during the vandalism, shared his disappointment.
“I knew that they do that stuff every year, but I didn’t know that they would damage expensive stuff and stuff that would cost our school. It was honestly disappointing,” Click said.
Eight students were there that night in an attempt to stop the vandalists. They worked to repaint the school rock, remove the offensive images, and restore some dignity to the campus. As the investigation continues, the Lenoir City High School community—students, parents, and faculty—are left shocked and saddened by how far this rivalry has escalated.
