Rockvale will be one of the last schools in Rutherford County to install artificial turf on its football fields, but it may be the program that needed it the most.
Rockvale has secured about $800,000 of more than $1.2 million for a project that will add not only artificial turf to the soccer stadium, but also a new video scoreboard.
It took a long time for Rockvale, which is only 5 years old, as it hasn't had enough space or practice facilities since its opening.
“We're a relatively new school, so we don't have the athletic facilities that other schools in the county have,” Rockvale football coach Brian Guthrie said. “Our children deserve something to be proud of.
“The biggest reason we needed a practice field was for an additional practice field. We spent $65,000 on a practice field that was only 85 yards long. It's a little small, but we'll be adding a freshman team there that needs practice space and a practice field.''
The project will be done by Warner's Athletic Construction of Smyrna and will use turf from Shaw Sports Turf. Construction is expected to begin in mid-May and be completed by early August.
The football field boasts the school's blue and white colors and is also unique with the Rockvale logo at midfield and an American flag background from end zone to end zone.
Its design collaborates with the school's military emphasis.
“In the 1940s, students voted to call themselves the Rockvale Rockets in honor of their classmates who had fought overseas in World War II. So we have a strong military background here at Rockvale. “and we wanted to honor that tradition in the design of the field,” Guthrie said. “We're aiming for a sports hall of fame, but we're also aiming for a military hall of fame for the military men and women of Rockvale. We're trying to embrace that.”
The turf is also different from those of other schools, as Rockvale uses Game On Performance Turf, which limits the number of seams and provides more design opportunities, such as the American flag carried by the Rockets.
“There's less cutting and gluing and fewer seams,” Guthrie said. “I hope it reduces the chance of failure.”
more:Artificial turf will be added to Rutherford County's newest Riverdale football offering.
Rockvale secured a bank loan for the project from Volunteer State Bank, which also donated $100,000 to the effort. McGuire Management Group donated $150,000 to the Rockets.
Any other donations or funds the team hopes to raise for the project will be displayed along with advertisements on the field, similar to other schools in the area with turf.
Approximately $150,000 to $200,000 of the fundraiser will go toward construction of a new scoreboard with a video board on top. The scoreboard will be relocated to the opposite side of the stadium from its original location.
“A discus cage will be added at the end of the field to support our great track program and allow us to host the state track championships,” Guthrie said.
