(LOUISVILLE,
Kentucky) - Building an elite field hockey and lacrosse program is one step
closer to reality for Kentucky Country Day School (KCD) in Louisville.
The installation of an all-new AstroTurf field will be
completed this summer, just in time for the upcoming field hockey season. It will also play a huge role next spring as
Pat McAnulty’s Lady Bearcats lacrosse team goes after their fourth state
championship in the last six years.
“Getting this new AstroTurf field is a gigantic step for our
athletic programs,” said McAnulty.
“We’ve achieved a high level of success and this field will help build
our program and help it remain successful for years to come.”
Amy Charasika, Head Field Hockey Coach and Assistant
Athletic Director, said the field is being installed for three major reasons.
“First, this will help with the advancement of the program
because it allows our players to prepare to play at elite levels,” said
Charasika. “Second, it’s a matter of
convenience. We don’t have to worry with
inclement weather and the field is ready to go all the time. Third, it’s a huge recruiting tool.”
Charasika said it also provides an added financial benefit
since the field does not require recovery time from extended use, they will be
able to rent it out to local club sports teams for their use. She also said that the field will see use by
the boys’ lacrosse and boys’ soccer teams.
“This allows us to take our already strong athletic programs
to a higher level,” said Brad Lyman, Head of School at KCD. “It also allows us to provide the same
quality facilities in athletics that we have in other areas such as the upper school
and the new fine arts center. It adds to
the quality of the overall experience of our students.”
Charasika said officials at KCD looked at three different
companies and visited fields in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Missouri, and
Tennessee.
“AstroTurf was definitely the right choice for us,” said Charasika. “We felt like it was the best product for our
needs and we felt a level of trust with the company and its people.”
At first, she expressed concern about using an infilled system for
field hockey because of the rubber splash, and the need for a level, consistent
playing field. She was sold on the
system after seeing the field at the McCallie School in Tennessee.
“I loved the feel,” she said.
“The RootZone gives better fiber density and encapsulates the infill so
there is no splash. The slit film also
makes it a faster surface.”
The new surface is the AstroTurf GameDay Grass 3D52X, the
most advanced in the synthetic turf industry.
The surface contains the AstroTurf XP fiber. XP is a slit-film product which offers better
infill encapsulation, best resistance to wear, and greater pile density. The product also features texturized
RootZone. RootZone is a fiber which acts
as a thatch layer, creating minimal rubber splash, uniform energy return, and
better shock absorbency, while encapsulating the infill and reducing migration.
The field also has a face weight of 52 ounces of fiber per square
yard, one of the highest in the industry.
This adds to the durability provided by the fiber shape.
“Kentucky Country Day is a great school with a great athletic program,”
said Pat Davidson, AstroTurf Regional Sales Manager. “They’re getting the best product on the market
and we’re proud to be a part of that tradition.”
Sports Construction Management is handling the construction of the
base and installation of the turf, which will be completed by mid-August.
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