By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Any controversy about Bowling Green School District’s new turf athletic field was drowned out by cheers Wednesday evening.
The district’s annual Fan Fair was all about the students who will be scoring touchdowns and goals, those who will be marching band formations, and the parents who will be rooting them all on.
Waiting for their chance to cross the field in front of the stands Wednesday, athletes from several sports shared their excitement about playing on the new turf.
“It will be a lot faster play,” said senior soccer player Jack Suelzer. “It will be nice to play under the lights,” rather than have games called early due to darkness.
“I’m super excited,” said junior soccer player Macy Ash. “We’re used to playing on bumpy, rocky grass. This is super nice.”
The football team was also thrilled.
“Oh yeah, we love it,” said senior football player Matthew Fallis. “It’s a better facility than ever.”
To senior football player Ethan Warner, it’s about far more than the artificial playing surface. It’s about seeing a school district wanting to invest in the teams.
“We are more confident,” Warner said.
New head football coach Josh Wade said the turf has made practices better.
“Like today, we had rain early in the day. We were able to get back on it,” to practice, he said.
Wade predicted the turf would give the team extra incentive.
“It gives you a little more sense of pride,” he said. “You feel like you have to defend it.”
Bowling Green Board of Education made the decision earlier this year to spend about $750,000 in pipeline tax revenue to put turf down in the athletic stadium.
The turf would allow the field to be used not just for football, but also soccer and lacrosse.
The previous grass field was one of just two in the NLL – and an embarrassment for Bobcat teams and coaches, the board was told.
As the Fan Fare began Wednesday, Superintendent Francis Scruci said the field will benefit multiple sports, plus the band and cheerleaders.
“Our junior Bobcats are going to benefit from this all the way through high school,” Scruci said. “The kids are really excited.”
Parents attended the Fan Fair event to cheer on their children.
John Miller was there for his daughter, the drum major in the marching band, and his son who plays on the football team.
The team has been practicing for the season on the new turf.
“He was excited when they announced it was coming in the spring,” Miller said.
Lori Maas was there to cheer on her daughter, a junior on the soccer team.
“I’m thrilled beyond measure,” she said about the new turf. “This is a huge facelift for the football stadium.”
Maas said she was aware of the criticism about money being spent on turf when the school buildings need improvements.
“I know the district has other things that need to be done,” she said. But she pointed out that building improvements are in the works – such as the air conditioning of three school buildings.
As Lee Hakel watched the students take the field, she recalled that turf was an issue when she served on the school board about a decade ago, and helped start the annual Fan Fair celebrations.
“We have to host other teams and be competitive,” Hakel said. “It was necessary and it was time.”
