Whittier to install new turf

By: Neslie Tumulac

Posted: 5/1/08

Whittier College will see the last of its grass in the Memorial stadium as the field is replaced with new synthetic turf during the summer. The installation of Sprinturf will begin in late May.

"It's a big project to accomplish," Head Football Coach BJ Hammer said. "But it benefits all of us as well as the student body."

The work and money needed to maintain the field will lessen after it is converted to synthetic turf, which will reduce yearly costs. Maintenance of the football field at Memorial stadium includes a number of tasks such as watering, lining and reseeding the field.

"The synthetic turf is a big advantage. We can have a beautiful looking thing all the time," Director of Athletics Robert Coleman said. "Our field grass isn't good and we have a small maintenance staff. It becomes costly."

Whittier's football team uses the Memorial stadium field for practices and games during the fall season.

"It takes time to recondition the field," Hammer said. "By the end of the football season, we're playing on dirt."

The wear and tear on grass athletic fields is also acknowledged by women's Lacrosse Head Coach Emily Frey. In the spring, the women's lacrosse team practices on the Donald E. Graham Soccer/Lacrosse Field, which is also used by the men's lacrosse team, while playing their games at the Memorial stadium because the field space fits regulation size.

"With practice, there's not an issue with time but with tear on the field," Frey said, "When you share the field with a team of 30 guys in cleats, it can get pretty chewed up."

With the consistent southern California weather, the synthetic turf will stay in better condition. Rain and mud will not be much of a concern, and the athletes can use cleats or turf shoes on the turf. According to men's Lacrosse graduate Assistant Coach Dave Gerbarg, who has played on synthetic turf fields, cleaning the turf is easy as it can be hosed down. Gameplay on synthetic turf fields is also affected. According to Frey, in lacrosse, the surface affects how the ball bounces and the speed of the game also changes, but she finds an advantage with the new field.

"Most SCIAC play on grass and our team will know how to play on both surfaces," Frey said.

According to Coleman, one of the biggest benefits of the synthetic turf installation is being able to extend the athletic facilities to the rest of the college besides athletic teams. There are currently plans to organize an intramural and recreational program that takes place at night next year.

After the renovation is complete, Whittier will be the only SCIAC school with a synthetic turf field. For coaches competing against other conference teams for student-athlete recruits, this helps Whittier stand out among similar schools in the conference.

"We take recruits to the field and it's just dust," Frey said. "Students will find this kind of facility very appealing, and it shows that athletics is a priority at the school."

"We need to do much to increase the image of the campus," Hammer said.

According to Frey, there also isn't a lot of turf around the area. The athletic department looks to rent out the synthetic turf field to surrounding high school teams. Doing so will bring in a number of athletes to Whittier's facilities and will be a helpful tool for athletic team recruitment.

"The more people on campus, the better," Coleman said. "We can showcase the school and market ourselves when we have a nicer field."

This new feature at the stadium is one of several renovation projects that the athletic department has planned. The Memorial Stadium's track will also be resurfaced this summer. Track and field events are also planned to be expanded to the Donald E. Graham Soccer/Lacrosse field. The preparation for this field installation has lasted more than a year, and the project is mostly funded through donations to the college. The installation of the synthetic turf field is scheduled for completion in August 2008, when Whittier's football team will break in the new field for the fall football season.