Game-changing Track and Turf Fields Project Breaks Ground

ATHLETICS

Fort Worth Country Day’s new and improved Barrett Havran Track and the turfing of two fields will be the talk of the town next fall. The FWCD community gathered on May 18, 2022, in Falcon Alley, for a special event: the formal groundbreaking ceremony for the most significant athletics improvement project in the School’s 59-year history.The upgrade, slated for complete in Fall 2022, includes excavating one of the School’s two field hockey fields, Rosacker Stadium field and Barrett Havran Track, and superseding them with internationalcaliber surfaces and technologies rivaled by no other high school in North Texas. The field hockey field will transition into a “wet” hockey field, only the third such field in the state of Texas and the first in the DFW area.

Participating in the ceremonial groundbreaking and the first “dig” were Chris Rooker, (Advancement Chair); William Chaffe (Paragon President); Dak Hatfield (Building and Grounds Chair); Leigh Block (Athletic Director); Robert Howard, Sloan Howard ’25, Sutton Howard ’23, and Venessa Howard (Lead Donors); Randy Eisenman ’93 (Board of Trustees President); Rob Kelly (representing the William E. Scott Foundation), Tyler and Brian Crumley ’92 (Project Donors); Anjie (Landreth) ’94 and William Butler ’96 (Campaign Co-chair); and Eric Lombardi (Head of School).

Photos by Glen E. Ellman

Photos by Glen E. Ellman

The results: No more rainouts because of saturated fields; no more worries about wear and tear during practices or competition; and the ability to host international-caliber track and field competitions and showcase the 104-acre campus. The ultimate game plan is to ensure that students are able to pursue their athletic interests on fields that are safe and meet high competition standards. The upgrades will serve the entire Falcon student body with the football and field hockey fields ready for Falcon athletes in September and the track finished in October.

The project’s champions, Venessa and Robert Howard, had been working tirelessly since January, explaining and sharing with prospective donors the benefits of the project to the FWCD athletic program and its student-athletes. As a result, 20 donors joined them as investors in the project. Paragon Sports Constructors in Fort Worth is leading the project.

Head of School Eric Lombardi opened the May ceremony, noting that the last groundbreaking event on campus took place in 2015 for the tennis courts, the Patton Field House, and the Moritz Fitness Center. Lombardi recognized Joy Ann and Bob Havran, who, in 2018, initiated an endowment for track maintenance when the FWCD track was named in honor of their son, Barrett Havran ’98.

Jared Connaughton, Head Track and Field Coach and Program Director, who has been involved in the design and layout of the new track and field venue with Paragon, said, “With the new state-of-the-art facility in the works, I’m confident that our Middle School and varsity meets will provide an athletic experience second to none in the DFW area. The new track and field will be a facility unique unto its own and rivaled by no other high school in the region.”

Jared Connaughton

The track is unique in that it consists of a durable Paragon PTS 4000 Sandwich System, which features a paved-in-place mat sealed with two-component polyurethane for an impermeable surface. The top layer provides a stable system that increases performance, is spike resistant, and can withstand consistent year-round use. This sandwich system is designed for tracks used for multiple purposes – from high-level track meets, to PE, to off-season workouts.

“The incorporation of a steeplechase pit, two in-field shot put sectors, and colored exchange zones for relays thrusts FWCD athletics into a league of its own having a venue that can host highcaliber track and field competitions,” Connaughton added.

Most excited about this project: the Falcon student athletes. Vivian Todora ’23 (Field Hockey) and Jeremy Henderson ’23 (Football, Track and Field) both spoke at the groundbreaking, sharing their great appreciation for the donors who made the enhancements a reality and the impact the improvements will have on FWCD’s sports programs, including preparing athletes for events on artificial turf, which is what many collegiate athletes experience.

The football field features Shaw Sports Turf’s PowerBlade fiber system with long-lasting monofilament fibers designed to look and play like natural grass, ready to go from preseason to playoffs without all the wear and tear. Underneath this durable surface is a pad that helps with shock absorption and a partial Geofill infill system that will cool the temperature of the field.

Henderson spoke about the value of team and togetherness in his remarks. “The best thing about the new facilities is that all the events will be in one centralized location, instead of the throwers [ discus and shot put] being across campus,” he noted. “Being able to cheer for and watch our field event athletes at every practice and home meet will bring an even stronger sense of camaraderie to our teams, which will have positive effects.”

Jeremy Henderson ’23

The field hockey surface, manufactured by SporTurf, uses a water cannon irrigation system that allows the School to “weather the field” before practices and games. This weathering makes the field significantly faster. Also, the field will have no crown whatsoever – the flat surface makes it exceptionally fast and consistent.

“The field hockey team is excited to have the experience to play on water-based turf, considered the gold standard in field hockey,” Todora noted. “We promise to work hard this season and bring honor and victory to Fort Worth Country Day on our new field hockey fields.

Vivian Todora ’23

Venessa and Robert, parents of FWCD Falcons Sutton ’23 and Sloan ’25, shared their thoughts about the importance of athletics in developing character, fair play, and cooperative and collaborative attitudes. “I really feel like this is a transformational project for Country Day. And it’s a chance for us to turn the corner in our athletic program. Athletics is not more important than history, English or math, but it is as important,” said Robert. “It is a good sign we are recognizing this as a school and as a community. As you look around, what a great group of kids. As a school and community, we owe it to them to give our students the best opportunity for success.”

Robert Howard

Introducing himself as a proud Falcon parent, alumnus, Trustee, and member of the Comprehensive Campaign Steering Committee, William Butler ’96 expressed gratitude to the donors, Trustees, steering committee, and administration. “We began this process quietly in January [2022], and we were able to complete our fundraising in just five short months,” Butler said. “I say a special thank you to the Howards – they championed this cause, and we couldn’t have done it without them.”

In addition, Butler expressed excitement at the prospect of watching the football, lacrosse and field hockey games on the new fields. “This is the beginning of Phase I of FWCD’s Master Plan and the Comprehensive Campaign,” he noted. “I look forward to sharing more details with you about the plans for the rest of the campaign.”