by Ryan Coulter ‘12

With dismal weather affecting the region over the past couple of months, the debate over how to schedule high school sporting events became a prominent concern for local athletic directors.

While many MCPS high school athletes, including Sherwood’s, are benched when heavy rain turns fields to mud pits, three teams around the county have absolutely no worries: Blair, Richard Montgomery and Walter Johnson. From lower maintenance costs to not having to reschedule a game due to wet weather conditions, artificial turf enables schools to cycle more money toward other needed materials.

While many high schools in the area, including Sherwood, would be thrilled to get the chance to have an artificial turf stadium, the current plan for MCPS is to install artificially surfaced fields only when schools are scheduled for modernization or renovation.

MCPS Director of Systemwide Athletics, William (Duke) Beattie is an advocate of the use of artificial turf fields. “They provide many important advantages over natural turf, especially considering that a typical MCPS high school will conduct approximately 100 games on its stadium field each year, accommodating twelve teams that share the field at most high schools,” said Beattie.

While the initial cost of installation for an artificial turf stadium is $1.2 million, maintenance of a traditional grass field can cost up to $40 thousand in a single year. Therefore in thirty years, an artificial turf stadium would be able to pay for itself entirely.

“I think that turf is amazing. It’s my favorite surface to play on for lacrosse and other sports because you always know how hard the ball is going to bounce and exactly where the bounce will go,” said junior lacrosse goalie Dalton Thomas.

One important advantage that artificial turf provides is its safety aspects that natural grass does not. Artificial turf offers a flat, consistent playing surface that is unaltered even when soaked with rain. Another advantage of a turf field is its ability to be used as a practice facility. Beattie pointed out that if more teams can practice on the turf without having to worry about altering its condition, then fewer teams would have to drive off-campus to practice fields, meaning less chance of accidents during commute.

“We already do not have enough practice fields for all the sports teams in the spring and fall. [Having an artificial field would] allow teams to practice on the turf, which means lacrosse doesn’t have to have half a field for practice and soccer doesn’t have to go to Farquhar Middle School to practice,” said senior Kelly Kendall who plays girls’ varsity lacrosse. While the advantages of artificial turf are apparent, some athletes like grass.

“Personally I don’t like to play on turf fields,” said senior Victor Mercogliano, who plays tight end and linebacker on varsity football. “After a game on a regular field, someone can walk off with mud and dirt all over their pants and jersey and it’s a great feeling to know that you played your heart out on your field that shows it.

“Also, I like natural things in general and I believe that football should be played on grass, not artificial blades of turf six inches above a layer of concrete. Which, by the way, if you come down with enough force you can definitely feel the concrete beneath while getting a great deal of turf burn all over your arms and legs. “I feel like with a traditional field, if a team can overcome adversity, whether it be a soaked field or a muddy field, then that sense of accomplishment is unchallenged.”