Over the past year, Kovler Gymnasium has had numerous changes and upgrades aimed at enhancing athletic performance and spectator experiences. 

A key change to the gym is the implementation of new shot clocks. This update was required by the future IHSA rules for high school basketball, which will require 30-second shot clocks for all basketball games in the 2026-27 season. While the shot clocks are not required right now, they help players get used to the new regulations.

“We wanted to get ahead of the curve, make sure we have them, start training our athletes to be prepared for and then also preparing people to work on them as well,” Assistant Athletics Director Josh Potter said. 

Another upgrade is the new scoreboard in Upper Kovler Gymnasium, which includes the shot clocks. It was installed this past summer and is currently being used for volleyball. The scoreboard will really shine this winter, when the basketball season starts, because it allows for the tracking of stats like rebounds and points per player. 

“I think it’s a really cool way for someone to walk into the game halfway through, and when they check in, they see their kid has four points, five rebounds and a couple fouls,” Mr. Potter said. “It’s an easy way for parents or fans to track, which is really cool for everyone.” 

The old scoreboard hasn’t gone to waste. It’s been moved to Sunny Gymnasium, where it can be used for other games and practices. 

These upgrades provide opportunities for students who don’t play sports to get involved with the athletic community at Lab, whether it be participating in stat tracking or running the shot clocks during games.

“It takes a very specific person who is very focused and understands the game,” Mr. Potter said. “We think it’s going to be a unique opportunity for students that are interested in that side of things.”