Musselman High School is excited to announce the installation of its brand-new turf field for the 2024-2025 school year, a significant upgrade that promises to enhance both athletic performance and student engagement.

When talking with Steve Campbell, the MuHS athletic director, about how long it has taken to get a new field, he stated, “I think we were 15 to 20 years past due on turf.”

Unlike traditional grass fields, the new turf field offers many advantages: it requires less maintenance, eliminating the need for frequent mowing, watering, and fertilization. This means more time for students to enjoy the field year-round, regardless of weather conditions.

Turf fields also provide better traction and durability, allowing for safer play during various sports, while maintaining a consistent surface that enhances performance. With this upgrade, Musselman high School is not only investing in improved facilities but also in the overall health and enjoyment of its students and athletes.

With the many upsides to the new turf field, there are many downsides to take into account, an example of this being that the athletes may have decreased balance with any condensation on the new turf, causing injuries.

Student athletic trainer, Layla McCutcheon states, “Turf burn has been one of the most prevalent injuries this season. One thing that can prevent turf related injuries is turf tape. The players run this along their arms to prevent any damage to the skin.”

Although skin opening injuries can occur on any type of field material. Turf beads can also get into the athletes eyes, causing players to sub out to get it removed.

The turf on the football field cost $867,114.21, but despite the high cost, the bond voted on by the community this past spring covered the entire cost.

“I think it’s an outstanding product,” athletic director Steve Campbell says.

At the end of the day many people are grateful for how it turned out and it has definitely boosted the looks of Denny Price Stadium.