Friday, April 22, 2011

LOUISVILLE CARDINALS FIELD HOCKEY TEAM SELECTS ASTROTURF AT TRAGER STADIUM

(LOUISVILLE, Kentucky) - The University of Louisville is gaining a reputation as a world-class program under a new world-class coach. In 2011, the Cardinals will play on a new world-class AstroTurf® surface.

The Cardinals, under first-year head coach Justine Sowry, were 13-7 and ranked 14th in the nation in 2010.

The program will also get a boost this year when they host the NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championships for the fourth time since 2002 at Trager Stadium.

“As the new head coach, the installation of the new AstroTurf® is exciting for us,” said Justine Sowry, head coach of the Louisville field hockey team. “This is a new chapter for our program and a chance to establish our own culture, vision, and goals. Part of that comes from having the best facilities in the country and a tremendous step in that direction is having a world-class field.”

Sowry, a native of Australia, previously coached for four years at the University of Massachusetts, where she won three Atlantic 10 Championships and made three NCAA appearances. Sowry was at Louisville as an assistant coach from 1998-2002. She has also been an assistant at Stanford University and for the U.S. National Team.

As a player, Sowry was a member of the Australian National Team and made 128 international appearances. She represented Australia from 1993-2001, and won gold medals in the World Cup in 1994 and 1998.

In her experience as a player and coach, she has been all over the world. Sowry says she played predominantly on AstroTurf® and believes that is the only choice for a great field because it is proven and tested at all levels. She knows it will benefit her team in preparation and games, as well as how it will affect Louisville’s reputation.

“This new field and hosting the NCAA Championships will highlight our program in Division I field hockey circles,” said Sowry.

Sowry and the Cardinals’ program are truly on the move.

“Justine was a great player and is a great coach,” said Pam Hixon, a field hockey hall-of-famer, is a legendary coach and is currently the Field Hockey Ambassador for AstroTurf®. “With her coaching ability, the talent of the Louisville team, and having the finest AstroTurf ® field, means that the Louisville program is on its way to the top.”

Construction is underway on the new AstroTurf® field and will be completed by June 1st.

The field will be an AstroTurf® 12 synthetic turf system. The field will be engineered with a premium knitted nylon system designed to provide uniform traction and consistent footing. It will improve playability when it is wet and absorbs water to maintain wet conditions longer.

“We have a strong program with a very high-profile facility,” said Pete Cautilli, Associate Athletic Director at Louisville. “AstroTurf® 12 is recognized as the industry leader for field hockey playing surfaces. For us, that was the logical choice.”

Upon completion, the field will be utilized for camps and training. The first home game of the year will feature the Cardinals taking on California on August 26th. The 2011 schedule will find the Cardinals facing seven of the Top 20 teams in the country and six teams which participated in the 2010 NCAA Championships. Louisville will play nine home games at Trager Stadium.

The NCAA Championships will take place on the new AstroTurf® at Trager Stadium in November. The semifinals will be held November 18th and the finals will take place on November 20th.

The installation of the new AstroTurf® field is currently underway and you can watch it live at www.astroturfusa.com.


About AstroTurf®
For many athletes and sport enthusiasts, the AstroTurf® brand has redefined the way the game is played. The company offers advanced, state-of-the-art, multi-sport and specialized synthetic turf systems with proprietary engineered technologies, leveraging the industry’s only vertically integrated manufacturing system. A growing number of high schools, colleges, professional sports teams and municipalities continue to select AstroTurf®-branded products for their premium quality, technical superiority and safety. Recent innovations from AstroTurf® include GameDay Grass™ 3D with RootZone®, a polyethylene/nylon hybrid system which most closely replicates natural grass; TurfAide™, a non-chemical antimicrobial shield protecting against MRSA and other infectious bacteria; and AstroFlect™ Technology which significantly reduces turf surface temperatures. To learn more, visit www.astroturfusa.com.

ASTROTURF FIELD DEDICATED TO FALLEN 9-11 HERO CHUCK MARGIOTTA




(STATEN ISLAND, New York) - There is always one kid who is the last to be picked when it comes to athletic contests. Inevitably, when Chuck Margiotta was the captain, he would make that kid his first choice.

“Chuck was always a champion of the underdog,” said his brother Mike.

It was that spirit that led Chuck Margiotta to make a fateful decision. Chuck, a 20-year veteran of the NYFD serving with Battalion 22, had volunteered to fill a shift for a fellow firefighter in Brooklyn. Following the shift, Chuck was on his way home to Staten Island early on the morning of September 11, 2001.

He learned of the attacks on the World Trade Center on his car radio and turned around and headed for the nearest fire station. He caught a ride with Rescue 5 near the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and went into the devastation to help. Chuck made a last call to his mother, Molly, and said, “Ma, it’s bad.”

Chuck, along with another 342 firefighters, lost his life that day. None of the 11 men on board the truck with Chuck that day ever returned home.

On Monday, April 18, his daughter’s 23rd birthday, Chuck Margiotta was honored when a new AstroTurf® field at Prall Playground and IS 27 was dedicated in his name. His brother Mike is a teacher at the school.

Although Margiotta has been honored many times over the past decade, naming a field after him is a fitting tribute.

“That’s where I want his name,” said his father, Charlie, Sr. “It’s an honor for our family and for Chuck to be associated with anything like this that is for the kids.”

Mike found out two years ago that city planners were planning to renovate the field and got involved with the project on an almost daily basis. The decision was made to name the field in honor of Chuck.

“This is the perfect place,” said Mike. “He was a tremendous athlete, a great coach, and a great educator. As a brother, I couldn’t be more proud.”

Chuck was a star athlete at Monsignor Farrell and went on to play football at Brown University, where they won the Ivy League Championship in 1976. In addition to a 20-year career as a firefighter, Chuck was a 20-year substitute teacher, a private investigator, and had small roles in movies such as Frequency and Hannibal.

Margiotta also served as the director of basketball for St. Rita’s parish and coached any number of sports from basketball to softball to soccer. Despite the gruff voice and burly physique, everyone took to Chuck. One friend said he was the nicest tough guy ever.

Now, a new generation of young athletes and sports enthusiasts will be able to play on the new field and will always be reminded of Chuck Margiotta’s sacrifice when they are at Lieutenant Charles Margiotta Field.

“We are so proud to have been selected to provide the AstroTurf® for this field, said Bryan Peeples, President of AstroTurf®. “But we are more proud of the fact that it has been named in honor of a true American hero, a family man, and a community leader dedicated to giving his all. God Bless Chuck Margiotta.”

“Chuck believed it was his obligation to life, to fill it up,” said lifelong friend Steve Gallira.

Because of the new AstroTurf® at Lieutenant Charles Margiotta Field, hundreds of people will be able to fill their lives with the joy of competition. And you can bet that Chuck Margiotta will be looking down, rooting for the underdog.

About AstroTurf®
For many athletes and sport enthusiasts, the AstroTurf® brand has redefined the way the game is played. The company offers advanced, state-of-the-art, multi-sport and specialized synthetic turf systems with proprietary engineered technologies, leveraging the industry’s only vertically integrated manufacturing system. A growing number of high schools, colleges, professional sports teams and municipalities continue to select AstroTurf®-branded products for their premium quality, technical superiority and safety. Recent innovations from AstroTurf® include GameDay Grass™ 3D with RootZone®, a polyethylene/nylon hybrid system which most closely replicates natural grass; TurfAide™, a non-chemical antimicrobial shield protecting against MRSA and other infectious bacteria; and AstroFlect™ Technology which significantly reduces turf surface temperatures. To learn more, visit www.astroturfusa.com.

KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY SELECTS ASTROTURF AT BILL SNYDER FAMILY STADIUM

(MANHATTAN, Kansas) - Bill Snyder and the Kansas State Wildcats are on a quest for greatness. This year, that quest will play out on the greatest synthetic surface in the world of sports.

The Wildcats recently announced that they have selected AstroTurf® GameDay Grass™ 3D60H to replace the current turf at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. Construction of the new field will be guided by Mid-America Golf and Landscape of Lee’s Summit, Missouri.

“We are pleased to have a new field,” said Head Coach Bill Snyder. “The AstroTurf® people have been very responsive to our needs and were able to provide us with what we wanted in a very timely manner.”

The new AstroTurf® system provides several benefits for the growing Wildcat football program that led to the choice.

“After looking at numerous options, we felt AstroTurf® and its GameDay Grass™ 3D60H system was the best choice for us at K-State," said Associate Head Coach and Director of Football Operations, Sean Snyder. "Some of the top professional and collegiate stadiums and practice facilities in the country utilize this surface and we are excited about becoming the first FBS football program to install GameDay Grass™ 3D60H in its stadium. The fibers and technologies used by AstroTurf® will provide our student-athletes with a state-of-the art product that focuses on player performance and safety.”

The field will feature the revolutionary new Horseshoe™ fiber. This new fiber is enjoying unprecedented success in the sports field marketplace, due to factors such as its unique shape. The fiber is an “Omega” shape with two end columns with a thicker diameter. The design imparts mechanical memory so that the fiber remains upright longer, unlike other fields whose fibers quickly flatten and split or shred at the spine. The Horseshoe™ fiber continues to spring back to its original configuration, even after years of heavy foot traffic or exposure to ultra-violet radiation.

The field also has a face weight of 60 ounces of fiber per square yard, the highest in the industry. This adds to the durability provided by the fiber shape.

In extensive testing, the Horseshoe® fiber performs most like natural grass from ball roll, to slide

resistance, to the biomechanical function of cleats penetrating and releasing properly. A study at Michigan State University, funded by NFL Charities, found that AstroTurf® GameDay Grass™ systems looked and performed more like natural grass than any other synthetic product measured, also making it the safest option.

The Horseshoe® fiber’s shape also allows it to reflect light and heat away from the surface. That, in combination with AstroFlect™ heat reduction technology, can lower surface temperatures by as much as 18%.

The Horseshoe™ fiber was introduced in 2010 and is already in use on practice fields at schools such as Stanford and the University of Tennessee; baseball game fields for the Tampa Bay Rays, Wake Forest, Duke, and Kansas; and numerous high school football fields around the country.

“We can’t wait for the team to get to play on this new AstroTurf® surface,” said Bryan Peeples, President of AstroTurf®. “This state-of-the-art field and the program that has been developing at Kansas State over the past few years is going to be a great combination, making the Wildcats a perennial threat in the Big 12 and the BCS.”

Since 1993, Kansas State University has won 141 games and is one of only two teams in the nation to win 11 games six times in a seven-year stretch. Snyder engineered the turnaround of the Kansas State football program, where he coached from 1989 until he retired in 2005. He returned to the helm of the program in 2009. His 149 victories are more that his 11 predecessors combined from 1935-1988. Snyder is a six-time national Coach of the Year award winner.

This year, the Wildcats will kick off their football campaign with their first game on the new AstroTurf® at home versus Eastern Kentucky on September 3. They will also face some stiff competition on the AstroTurf®, with home games against Kent State (September 17), Baylor (October 1), Missouri (October 8), Oklahoma (October 29), Texas A&M (November 12), and Iowa State (November 26).

About AstroTurf®
For many athletes and sport enthusiasts, the AstroTurf® brand has redefined the way the game is played. The company offers advanced, state-of-the-art, multi-sport and specialized synthetic turf systems with proprietary engineered technologies, leveraging the industry’s only vertically integrated manufacturing system. A growing number of high schools, colleges, professional sports teams and municipalities continue to select AstroTurf®-branded products for their premium quality, technical superiority and safety. Recent innovations from AstroTurf® include GameDay Grass™ 3D with RootZone®, a polyethylene/nylon hybrid system which most closely replicates natural grass; TurfAide™, a non-chemical antimicrobial shield protecting against MRSA and other infectious bacteria; and AstroFlect™ Technology which significantly reduces turf surface temperatures. To learn more, visit www.astroturfusa.com.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

ASTROTURF PARTNERS WITH THE NATIONAL FIELD HOCKEY COACHES ASSOCIATION

(DALTON, GA) - It’s never been a secret that AstroTurf® is the preferred surface for field hockey pitches around the world.

Now, at least from a coaching perspective, it’s official.

In an announcement from the National Field Hockey Coaches Association, AstroTurf® has been named the Official Artificial Surface Provider of the organization.

“We’re excited about our partnership with AstroTurf®,” said NFHCA Executive Director Jenn Goodrich. “There is no other surface to compare with AstroTurf® System 12. AstroTurf® fields are durable and consistent, just like the company that makes them. Their fields outperform other fields and those are the kinds of partnerships which help the development of our great sport.”

The NFHCA serves field hockey coaches and supporters across the United States. Its goal is to stimulate the professional development of coaching leadership. It also serves as a presence and voice regarding legislative matters of the sport, as well as interscholastic and intercollegiate programs.

AstroTurf® was first used in an international field hockey event in 1975 in Montreal. The same field hosted the Olympics in 1976. AstroTurf® surfaces also played host to the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Closer to home, AstroTurf® surfaces are utilized by all the elite collegiate field hockey teams. In fact, last fall, the University of Maryland, under coach Missy Meharg, captured the NCAA title on a new AstroTurf® pitch.

“I can’t remember the last time an NCAA Division I Championship was not played on AstroTurf®,” said Pam Hixon, NFHCA Hall of Fame coach and Field Hockey Ambassador for AstroTurf®.

Hixson, who is heavily involved with the development of the sport, believes the partnership between the NFHCA and AstroTurf® is a valuable one.

“I am member of the NFHCA and a part of the AstroTurf® organization,” said Hixon. “The NFHCA is committed to the development and growth of the sport. From an AstroTurf® standpoint, a premier pitch is a tremendous part of growing young athletes and competitive programs. This is going to have a huge impact on our sport.”

AstroTurf® System 12 pitches are made of a short-pile, knitted nylon product which conform the sport’s need for high degrees of planarity, extremely tight tolerances, and sophisticated drainage systems. AstroTurf® System 12 pitches provide uniform traction and consistent footing. The fibers are UV-resistant, have a low-glare surface, and reduce the need for watering and maintenance costs.

About AstroTurf®
For many athletes and sport enthusiasts, the AstroTurf® brand has redefined the way the game is played. The company offers advanced, state-of-the-art, multi-sport and specialized synthetic turf systems with proprietary engineered technologies, leveraging the industry’s only vertically integrated manufacturing system. A growing number of high schools, colleges, professional sports teams and municipalities continue to select AstroTurf®-branded products for their premium quality, technical superiority and safety. Recent innovations from AstroTurf® include GameDay Grass™ 3D with RootZone®, a polyethylene/nylon hybrid system which most closely replicates natural grass; TurfAide™, a non-chemical antimicrobial shield protecting against MRSA and other infectious bacteria; and AstroFlect™ Technology which significantly reduces turf surface temperatures. To learn more, visit www.astroturfusa.com.

Monday, April 18, 2011

INDUSTRY VETERAN C.J. COLLINS JOINS ASTROTURF®

(DALTON, GA) - AstroTurf®, the leader of the sports turf industry, has added industry veteran C.J. Collins to its staff in California.

Collins, from Santa Rosa, joins AstroTurf® after years of experience selling synthetic turf in California, Nevada, Washington, and Oregon. In his new role, he will be responsible for sales in Northern California.

“C.J. brings tremendous depth of experience to our team,” said Bryan Peeples. “He will be an asset to our team, but more importantly, C.J. will be a valuable resource and advisor to schools and communities who are navigating the process of selecting, buying, and installing the best synthetic turf system.”

Collins has displayed a unique ability to work with clients and grow his territory like few other sales representatives. During an eight year period, Collins increased the amount of synthetic turf installed in his territory by 1,200%.

AstroTurf®, the inventor of the industry, is currently riding the crest of a similar wave, growing by nearly 300% in 2010. Among the latest major wins for the venerable company are Tropicana Field in Tampa, Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium, and fields at Stanford and Oregon State.

“I am proud to be part of an organization with the incredible history AstroTurf® has,” said Collins. “They have a proven track record, and because of their superior product lines, the most potential of any company in the industry.”
About AstroTurf®

ABOUT ASTROTURF®
For many athletes and sport enthusiasts, the AstroTurf® brand has redefined the way the game is played. The company offers advanced, state-of-the-art synthetic turf systems with proprietary engineered technologies, leveraging the industry’s only vertically integrated manufacturing system. A growing number of high schools, colleges, professional sports teams and municipalities continue to select AstroTurf®-branded products for their premium quality, technical superiority and safety. Recent innovations from AstroTurf® include GameDay Grass™ 3D with RootZone®, a polyethylene/nylon hybrid system which most closely replicates natural grass; TurfAide™, a non-chemical antimicrobial shield protecting against MRSA and other infectious bacteria; and AstroFlect™ Technology which significantly reduces turf surface temperatures. To learn more, visit www.astroturfusa.com.

AstroTurf

"This is not your father's AstroTurf" - Archie Manning