Whittier to install new turf
Neslie Tumulac
Issue date: 5/1/08 Section: Sports
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.
"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.
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