Panthers say goodbye to natural grass; FieldTurf on the way
The Apple Bowl sits empty with the current grass, which will soon be replaced with turf.
Senior Jairo Alpire rushes up the Lee Bofto Field in the Apple Bowl as Wenatchee High School’s varsity soccer team takes on the Quincy Jacks. The surface underneath him is of the highest quality natural grass in the state. It is his home, but in less than a month he will have to say goodbye forever.
“It is a dream for a lot of kids to play soccer or football in the Apple Bowl. I makes me mad and frustrated that I will not be able to finish the season at home, especially my senior year,” Alpire said. “The football team is not affected. This isn’t about our performance. Lets be honest, football brings in the money.”
The school board approved replacing the Apple Bowl’s natural grass with synthetic turf or FieldTurf on March 10. The cost will be of $1.2 million. It is expected that the Apple Bowl will host more community events and more sports other than soccer and football.
The new field will have markings for football, soccer, and boys and girls lacrosse.
“I like turf, but I don’t really like how many lines are going to be painted on,” sophomore JV soccer player Gerardo Anguiano said. “May as well draw a baseball diamond.”
The WHS Panthers will move to the Wenatchee Valley College soccer field to finish their season. Coach Dennis Tronson is confident the fields at WVC are ready to host the team. However, Tronson is not completely happy.
A schematic design for the Apple Bowl FieldTurf. The centerfield logo is still being decided.
“I am not in favor of the FieldTurf for the reasons that soccer is meant to be played on grass,” Tronson said. “On the other hand, we have a predictable surface for the preseason preparation and practice.”
The soccer program originated on the WVC field. Assistant Coach Leo Anguiano remembers preparing the field for play.
“I feel good about the field at Wenatchee Valley. It’s nice,” Anguiano said. “I remember picking up rocks off the field to prepare the surface. Turf, I like turf. We will be able to host more games at the Apple Bowl.”
Anguiano would like to see that the highest quality turf is placed in the Apple Bowl.
“The only thing that worries me is if they go cheap,” Anguiano said. “We need the turf to be the highest quality available on the market. If we get the cheap stuff, more players will get hurt and it will get torn up quickly.”
Many agree that FieldTurf is a surface the Athletic Department can keep controlled easily. It is also projected that maintenance cost will be reduced. Some younger soccer players are also excited to see the new face of the stadium. Sophomore Oliver Mendez is one of them. Mendez came to WHS from Quincy High School.
“The field will make us look professional and it will be less money to take care of it,” Oliver Mendez said. “In Quincy we have corn, just kidding, they have grass as well. I am heartbroken we will not be able to finish our season here at the Apple Bowl.”
Players agree the pace of soccer will speed up with the increased traction of FieldTurf. Tronson commented that is a condition not always favorable and is hard on the knees.
Meanwhile, the emblem that will go on the center of the field is still a topic of discussion.
“There is just no other time to replace the surface. I hope it’s on time and ready to go by our first home game which is actually our first game. I’m just glad I’m not a soccer coach,” football Coach Scott Devereaux said. “I would like to see a panther head on the center. Other schools have their mascot and I like that.”
More and more schools are turning to synthetic playing fields. This transition has balanced the competition since schools share a common surface.
“There is no possibility for potholes to form on FieldTurf like there is on natural grass,” Athletic Director Jim Beeson said. “We will be able to host many sports with the new surface. I think the best part of it is that everyone gets to use it.”
Whether athletes support the change or not, the decision is not up for change. Next fall, the Apple Bowl will be showing its new face: lights, turf, and stands all included.
“It is sad to see such a unique facility go, but hopefully it will be to our advantage,” Tronson said. “We will have to wait and see. In the long run I hope it will benefit the program. At least we won’t be playing home games at Eastmont.”
