Barnesville put together quite a memorable season in football in 2022, so, when the disappointment from a second-round loss to Wheelersburg subsides, that hurt will turn to pride and a sense of accomplishment.
Naturally, it will take the players and coaching staff longer, but even they too will like back on this season and smile for there was a lot for the 11-1 and OVAC runner-up Shamrocks to be thankful.
Now the administration, athletics department, and the school district are hoping to capitalize on that success and provide not only the football program, but the school, its students, and the community at large another reason to beam with pride. Last week the Barnesville Exempted Village School District sent out a Tweet with a flyer detailing the district’s push to bring an artificial playing surface to Shamrock Stadium.
The projected cost of the project, which will include needed updates to the lighting system, is approximated at $1.5 million.
“We’ve been talking about this for a while but felt that it’s time,” said Brad Hannahs, the Athletics Director at Barnesville High School. “A number of other schools have added turf fields and this would greatly benefit, not only the football program but the school and community.”
Raising the Funds
In just a few short days since the announcement was made on social media, the project has received a large throng of interest both from the residential and business communities of Barnesville and beyond.
Not all will come from donations as the school district has money set aside in its permanent improvement fund, which will help.
But more will be needed.
“We’ve gotten a good bit from the district as it set aside a permanent improvement fund, but it’s not enough to cover everything,” Hannahs said. “Our goal, obviously, is to be ready for the 2023 football season.
“We’ve gotten some pledges from businesses since we put it out on social media.”
And it’s not just in-town businesses.
One of the team’s coaches lives in St. Clairsville and talked with Muxie Distributing and it too made a pledge.
Hannahs noted there is a school board meeting set for the following week on Thursday and he believes, with what’s already raised and/or pledged to be donated, the project can be given the preliminary green light.
Interest certainly is strong.
“People saw the ad and they reached out, businesses too,” Hannahs said.
Hannahs also noted the Goalliners, the program’s booster club, is doing a lot for the turf project. The group was already instrumental in the new fieldhouse project.
Why the Need and How Will It Help?
The present playing surface itself is a major reason for the push for turf at Shamrock Stadium.
The grass and, in particular, the humped middle portion of the field can cause drainage issues and it doesn’t take much moisture for the grass surface to morph into a muddy mess.
“If you look at the middle of the field there’s a crown and that playing surface can get muddy and cause delays,” Hannahs said. “This year wasn’t too bad, but if we get a hard rain, it can cause problems.
“Plus you have the cost of maintaining a grass field, the mowing, the painting, and the costs keep going up and up.”
Each year the pee wee team in Barnesville gets to play one of its home games on the big field at Shamrock Stadium.
But the steady rains that came as a result of the remnants of Hurricane forced the team elsewhere this year, down the road on Route 800 to the Moose Field.
“We had to move it down to a glorified baseball field at the Moose Field,” Hannahs said. “This field is supported by the Little Rocks too.
“Each season, we have our five varsity home games, plus a scrimmage, four jayvee games, four each for the seventh and eighth-grade teams, plus the Little Rocks. That’s a lot of use.”
That’s just football too. That doesn’t account for the added benefits for the marching band, as well as the baseball and softball football teams, which no longer would be relegated to indoor practice should the skies open up—which they are want to do in the Ohio Valley during the spring.
Design Aspects
Given Barnesville’s primary color is green, don’t look for any off-the-wall coloring of the turf itself. But the district is eyeing a couple of options, one is the alternating shades of green you’ll find at an increasing number of stadiums in the area.
“There are a couple we are looking at,” Hannahs said. “Personally, we like the alternating panels a lot. River has it, Shadyside, I know we like the look of it. There are two renditions, but we haven’t decided anything yet. It’s still in process.”
The turf, coupled with the lighting improvements, will only add to one of the most picturesque and interesting places to play in the Ohio Valley.
From the walk to the stadium, to the overall vibe of the facility, the fact Shamrock Stadium is nestled up against a hillside, tucked into a residential neighborhood gives it an interesting feel. And that’s before the leaves start turning and lighting up the backdrop.
“The way our field is situated, it’s so unique,” Hannahs said. “From the walk-in, the surrounding wooded area, in the fall with the leaves, we’ve had a number of (opposing) coaches tell us there is one of their favorite places to play.”
Added Benefits
The obvious boosts for the Shamrocks’ football program, along with baseball, softball, and marching band are obvious.
The same can be said for the middle school, plus Little Rocks football teams.
But the addition of turf could make Shamrock Stadium a potential regional playoff destination. Take Friday’s meeting between Caldwell and River, taking place at Red Devil Stadium in St. Clairsville. It would give the OHSAA another viable option in this case, as well as any other smaller division teams in the district needing a neutral site for a playoff game.
“We don’t have the seating capacity for say Big Red or teams of that size, but River and Caldwell, Division VII, VI, and V-size schools, we could certainly host those games.”
Hannahs also noted that the addition of a flag football league could host its games at Shamrock Stadium, a recreational option that the town, at present, doesn’t offer. With a readily available facility to play at, no matter the conditions, that could change.
When field conditions don’t have to be factored into the equation for every allowed use outside of varsity football, the possibilities expand greatly.
That too, is a leading factor in the push for turf at Shamrock Stadium.
For more information, or to help, visit the school district’s web page found here.
