GEARY, Okla. (KOKH) — The old gymnasium next to the Geary High School went up in flames on Saturday night. Crews tore down the gymnasium on Sunday afternoon as people looked on with tears in their eyes.
Blaine County Emergency Management Director Jim Shelton told FOX 25 a deputy spotted smoke and flames coming from the gymnasium just before 10 p.m. on Saturday.
Multiple fire departments responded, and currently the cause of the fire is unknown. Shelton said the fire was mostly contained to the gym.
“We did have a little bit of fire get into the high school part, burned the restrooms and janitorial closet and got a little bit into the wall in one of the classrooms,” he said.
David Wigington graduated from Geary High School in 1982. He was emotional as he watched the gym he wrested in be torn down.
“I wrestled a lot of matches in this one,” he said. “This year we had the 80th Geary Wrestling Tournament. It’s the oldest tournament in the nation, and that’s where it all started right there.”
“This was an old wooden gym. It was… just a good lookin’ gym,” Wigington said. “A lot of memories in this gym. So, sad to see it go.”
Geary Public Schools Superintendent Sean Buchanan told FOX 25 students will not be on site on Monday. He said school officials are working on plans to have students back later in the week.
