Carroll ISD voted to rename its football field and aquatic center at a recent school board meeting.
At the January 23 meeting, the Carroll ISD Board of Trustees voted to change the names of two facilities in the district. As stated in the meeting, for the name of a facility to be changed, the name of the person used must have an important legacy and impactful contribution.
The football field previously known as Dragon Stadium will now be called the Bob Ledbetter Field, named after the Hall of Fame coach that retired in 2022. The Carroll ISD Aquatic Center is now named Elise Cerami Aquatic Center after a student from the varsity swim team passed away.
From 1979-1996, Ledbetter coached the football team that saw 208 wins and only 39 losses. He’s been honored in the North Texas Football Coaches Association Hall of Honor, the inaugural Carroll ISD Hall of Honor and the Texas High School Coaches Association Hall of Honor, according to Community Impact.
Trustee Eric Lannen said, “I can’t think of a person more deserving to name our football field than after him.”
Elise Cerami was a 13-year-old swimmer. In 2016, she accidentally drowned during swimming practice at the Carroll ISD Aquatic Center. No adults were present during the incident. Her brother Bryce suggested to the board of trustees that naming the center after Elise was the right thing to do. “This will be a strong reminder to watch the ones they love diligently around water, regardless of their age or swimming ability,” he said to the board.
After her death, competitive swimmers started to use a sharpie to write “Swim 4 Elise” on their arms during meets. Lori Cerami, Elise’s mother, started a nonprofit called Swim 4 Elise. Now she’s able to provide children with scholarships.
While at Carroll ISD, Ledbetter started the girls’ softball, volleyball, and swim programs making a substantial impact on school’s sport options. Lori is using Elise’s legacy to teach children how to be safe while in the pool.