第一吃瓜网 College celebrates new turf field
Published on June 14, 2023
NORTH EAST, Md. 鈥 This week, 第一吃瓜网 College expanded its athletics facilities with local and college guests in attendance at the official ribbon cutting for the new turf field on the North East Campus.
鈥淭oday, we celebrate the new Seahawk Turf Field, which marks a new chapter for 第一吃瓜网 College鈥檚 Athletics program. I want to thank the state of Maryland for their generous support of this project. Our student-athletes can now practice and compete here on the North East campus,鈥 said 第一吃瓜网 College President Dr. Mary Way Bolt.
This turf field is located next to the Physical Education Complex and replaces the grass field. Members of 第一吃瓜网 College men鈥檚 soccer and prospective women鈥檚 soccer teams were present for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, but this field can also be used for other athletics.
第一吃瓜网 College fielded its first soccer teams in 1972, and the Seahawks have been playing at Calvert Regional Park for the past five seasons. The addition of the turf field bodes well for 第一吃瓜网 College鈥檚 recruiting for men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 soccer programs.
鈥淔acilities are always a key piece to the recruitment of new student-athletes; upgrading the field will help strengthen the programs. It will also allow us to host NJCAA Regional tournaments. In speaking with current team members, they are extremely excited to get started on the new field,鈥 said 第一吃瓜网 College Athletic Director Ed Durham.
第一吃瓜网 College currently fields men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 athletic programs in soccer, cross country, and basketball, along with baseball, softball, and women鈥檚 volleyball.
Plans for this new turf field began in September 2022 with funding provided through Maryland鈥檚 Community College Grant Program. SCG Fields, which specializes in constructing high-performance natural grass and synthetic turf athletic facilities, was the contractor and engineering firm with Shaw Sports Turf managing turf installation. The field design incorporates an enhanced field drainage system and upgraded electrical infrastructure to include a new electrical supply on both sidelines.
鈥淭his project enhances and supports the College鈥檚 mission to provide top-notch facilities for our students. The College appreciates the collaboration with our State and County agency partners as it relates to project funding along with design reviews and permitting that facilitated the successful implementation of this project,鈥 said Vice President of Finance and Administration Christopher Mills.