IBERIA — Several years ago, Northmor Schools built a new high school, improving the public perception of the mostly rural district.
With that huge step completed, the administration turned its attention to the athletic facilities. Included in the plans were upgrades to the football stadium, but few could have envisioned installation of artificial turf.
What seemed like a pipe dream became a reality with the recent completion of a new artificial turf field. But unlike most projects of this magnitude, Northmor handled the entire expense with its own budget.
“Our former treasurer left us in a good place with cash in reserve,” Northmor athletic director Justin Hershberger said. “Our pipe dream became more realistic.”
The district hired a project engineer, Lynn Makeever, out of Bucyrus in the summer of 2019. Turf was not in the original plan but once they decided it was fiscally feasible, Makeever did the cost analysis for both natural and artificial turf.
“The maintenance was a huge selling point,” Hershberger said. “Nothing is maintenance free, but when we did the cost analysis and what it would cost compared to the cost to maintain a natural grass field the way it needs to be done and to achieve the same high level playing surface, turf made much more sense.”
Hershberger defused the idea that the field is a huge investment for something that is only used 10 weeks a year.
“This will be for multisport use,” Hershberger said. “We don’t have soccer, but we could rent it out to area clubs. We could also host Division VI and Division VII playoff games. Plus, the baseball and softball teams can use it to work out when their fields are too wet.”
Northmor will still be able to build the new baseball and softball fields that were desperately needed, which Hershberger described as tired.
“Football is only part of the equation,” Hershberger said. “We are getting our new baseball and softball fields. Also, we are planning to out in a new concession stand, ticket booth and restroom facility.”
The upgrade is the next step in improving the image of the district in the eyes of the public. While the football program wasn’t the original reason for the project, its recent success has certainly added to the justification, having made the playoffs the past four years under coach Scott Armrose.
“The big thing for me and a lot of us is that we wanted to give the community something to be proud of,” Hershberger said. “We thought this would be a good investment in our kids.”
The Knights are scheduled to inaugurate the new turf Week 1 of the season on August 28 when they host Seneca East. Interestingly, Bucyrus will play there in Week 3 on September 11.
The field was installed by Maumee Bay Turf.