2009 Winners Announced! Search for the Real Field of Dreams National Contest
April 21, 2009. With over 1000 synthetic turf sports fields installed in the U.S. annually, the Synthetic Turf Council wanted to discover the stories behind some of these fields. And so, on February 3, the STC launched the Search for the Real Field of Dreams, a national contest that invited public and private high schools to relate the impact that their synthetic turf field has had on the school, the students, and the community. Today we announce the Grand Prize Winner, the First Runner-up, and the 8 National Finalists.
Three independent judges -- Bob Vecchione from the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, Christine Sima of Parks and Rec Business and Christine Bolger of the National Association of Sports & Physical Education -- have evaluated the entries from 37 schools nationwide, and selected the ten winners. Here they are with a photo and a short summary of the story behind their synthetic turf sports field. View Other Nominated High Schools
Grand Prize Winner
Salesian High School
Richmond, CA
 
In a true story of David vs. Goliath, the football team at Salesian High School in Richmond, California went from the brink of closure to defeating an "unbeatable" team with players twice its size. It was Salesian’s first game on their brand new synthetic turf field – a field that is now being hailed the Grand Prize Winner of the Search for the Real Field of Dreams. Salesian High School unveiled its field for the varsity football Homecoming game in 2007. They were up against a school with three times as many students and an offensive line that looked like an NFL team. Nearly 1,000 fans packed the stands as Salesian High School defeated its opponent 40-37. The headline in the next day’s newspaper read, ‘David Slays Goliath.’
Located in a city with one of the country’s highest murder rates, the students at Salesian High focused their efforts on academics – the school boasts a graduation rate near 100 percent. And although 70 percent of students are involved in athletics, the conditions of their grass field were so poor that the soccer and football teams were on a three-year notice to be shut down. That all changed when the school raised funds to install a synthetic turf field. Salesian’s inspirational story stood out among the winning entries selected by an independent panel of judges as winners of the STC’s first annual Search for the Real Field of Dreams. Read Full Story
First Runner-Up
Junction City High School
Junction City, KS
 
The varsity football team at Junction City High School squashed a 40 year dry spell and won the 2008 State Championship after replacing its run-down playing field with synthetic turf. The school’s inspirational story has now helped it win First-Runner Up in the Search for the Real Field of Dreams. Located in the small military town of Junction City, Kan., the old field could only be used once or twice a week. Now the new synthetic turf field is used nearly every day, all year round. The school’s award-winning band now has a place to practice, the soccer team has a place to play home games and the "Ultimate Blue" Frisbee team is able to use the fields, too. From a fundraiser flag football game hosted by area firefighters to a "Tribute to Our Troops" night recognizing military members and their families, the field at Junction City High School has truly helped bring the entire community together. Read Full Story
National Finalists (in alphabetical order)
Germantown High School
Philadelphia, PA
Benjamin L. Johnston Memorial Field is one of five "super sites" that serve Philadelphia high school athletics. Germantown High School runs the facility, which provides athletic field space for schools which lacked on-premises outdoor space, a typical problem in urban settings. Overuse had turned the field into a desolate eyesore which became a complete quagmire during rain. Then the Local Initiatives Support Corporation in Philadelphia helped arrange for a $200,000 grant from the NFL’s Grassroots program as part of a major renovation project. The Philadelphia Eagles and School District of Philadelphia also came together to give area’s youth a better place to play. Together, these efforts lead to the install of a synthetic turf field that has transformed the community. It hosts football, soccer, field hockey and track teams from more than 10 local schools, and most mornings over 100 people are exercising n the field before the school day even begins. Student athletes take care of the field, raking leaves, washing the neighbor’s sidewalks and painting the fencing. The field is now a place that creates healthy minds, healthy bodies and opportunities for a bright future. Read Full Story
Oak Hills High School
Cincinnati, OH
Funded by individual donations, the playing field at Oak Hills High School gives back to the entire community. Since its installation in 2007, over 10,000 students have played on the field whereas the previous natural surface only accommodated 700 during the same period of time. Fitness education classes use it five bells a day, five days a week, five months of the year. The football team has a first class facility to practice, rain or shine, while soccer, baseball and softball teams use it for training as well. Community groups such as youth football that previously had to be turned away now have a safe place to practice and play. Read Full Story
Rutland High School
Rutland, VT
On the surface, it might have seemed that the biggest challenge in bringing a synthetic turf field to Rutland High School was the Vermont climate. However, the school faced a larger issue in raising funds to install a field for practice and home games. Illustrating just how far a "can do" attitude can go, a group of private citizens came together with the school to plan, design, install and fun the project for the benefit of the community overall. Much effort was involved in forging this public/private partnership – speaking engagements, fundraising activities and more involving alumni, students, parents and other local citizens. Marking the first time in the town’s history that a public group organized and worked with the school system, it proved to be incredibly effective. Efforts started a year before the first shovel and by May 2008, the entire community was involved in giving back. The high school’s beautiful synthetic turf field today is a culmination of the community’s dreams. Read Full Story
Uniontown Lake High School
Uniontown, OH
Uniontown Lake High School’s story is an inspirational example of the power of community. Seeing the tremendous need for a reliable playing surface, a private group of local residents formed a fundraising committee for a synthetic turf field. Through their hard work and the dedication of Uniontown’s citizens, the field was paid for entirely through community donations and installed. Since the field’s August 2008 installation, more events, practices and activities have taken place on it than in the past seven years combined. It serves as an inspiration to athletes, students, parents and fans to "dream big" and to see the tremendous impact of a community that works together. Read Full Story
Virginia City High School
Virginia City, NV
The entire town of Virginia City is labeled a National Historic Landmark for its rich mining heritage. Although the high school team has taken more state championships in boys basketball than any other school, other sports struggled to find an identity. Carved into a mountainside about 6200 hundred feet above sea level, there was no flat spot suitable for building an athletic field. Football had been non-existent since 1943, the baseball team played its "home" games 10 miles away in another town and the women’s softball team played in a local park.
But then a generous donation of 300,000 square yards of leftover tailings - dirt left behind from the miners of the 1800’s – meant they could raise the surface and construct a synthetic turf playing field that could handle multiple sports. The school of 154 students had 30 players turn out for football and 200 people show up just to watch practice during the fall 2007 season. During their first home game, they beat their opponent 43-20. Read Full Story
Walton-Verona High School
Walton, KY
With just 1,500 students K-12, Walton-Verona might be an extremely small school district, but it is large on school spirit and pride after the installation of its new synthetic turf facility in 2007. Outstanding academics was always part of its reputation and now its athletics match as soccer teams play on a regulation size field, and middle school, Junior varsity and Varsity football teams have been added to the program. Community use has also been incredible. They host Pee-Wee football throughout the fall and once a year all of the elementary students just get to run around on the "high school" field. The school now has a marching band, which has been terrific for school spirit. Read Full Story
Wyoming City Schools
Cincinnati, OH
Wyoming City Schools is located in a residential community with no room for expansion, only renovation. With over 60 events in the fall, its playing field used to be nothing but dirt by the end of the fall season. The football team couldn’t practice during rainy weather, creating a disadvantage against its biggest rival. The field had to be closed from November through July just to grow grass again. With the installation of synthetic turf, the school has added lacrosse for boys and girls in the spring and its baseball team has a better record as well as a safer playing surface. Wyoming City’s field is now open to the public year round, where you will often see soccer games, lacrosse, touch football and people working out. Read Full Story
Zanesville High School
Zanesville, OH
Before synthetic turf the mud pit at Zanesville High School was nothing but an eye sore. The school district could hardly afford to do more than mow the grass and empty the trash at the field, so the community came together to raise money for a synthetic turf field. Displaying the true power of community, Zanesville residents raised money for, and installed the field without the aide of any large donors. Now the school’s marching band now has an area to practice, the baseball team has a reliable place to hold outdoor practices and physical education classes can use the field every day. It’s also made a tremendous impact on the community. A spring flag-football program has begun – which never would have happened on the school’s old surface, and a small local Catholic High School rents the field for home football games to assist Zanesville in raising funds to complete the project. Read Full Story
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