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Field turf coming to Hutchinson Field

Pittsburg High School and St. Mary's-Colgan High School have had a wonderful working relationship over the years during football season.

That working relationship will continue again next year, with one noticeable change that both parties are thrilled about - FieldTurf.

That's right - for the second time in four years, FieldTurf will be added to a local field - the first time being when Pittsburg State University had the surface installed in 2002. The donation was accepted at Monday's Pittsburg USD 250 school board meeting, when the board passed Resolution 2006-04 by a unanimous vote.

"It's a tremendous opportunity for both schools," Chuck Smith, St. Mary's-Colgan head football coach and athletic director said. "I think it's going to be a beautiful complex and I think the best in the State of Kansas."

The project is being funded by anonymous donations - and will also include a new practice field for St. Mary's-Colgan High School that includes a four-lane running track, and new, more energy-efficient lights at Hutchinson Field.

This should alleviate two scheduling conflicts Colgan has - football practice and junior high school games played at JayCee Ball Park, and track practice at Pittsburg State University.

Pittsburg USD 250 Superintendent Gary Price and Assistant Superintendent Matt Wendt have worked in recent months in conjunction with the St. Mary's-Colgan-USD 250 Athletic Facilities Task Force and the anonymous donors to finalize the plans for the donation.

Along with the school board, the donors and the task force, Smith, PHS football coach Merle Clark and PHS athletic director Doug Hitchcock have all been in on working out the deal.

The Morning Sun, (www.morningsun.net) February 14, 2006