Shawnee High School Receives Funding For New Turf Field

Shawnee High School’s football stadium is getting a new turf field as they continue to rebuild from tornado damage in April. 

The Shawnee Board of Education accepted $1.8 million in funding towards a brand new turf project for Shawnee High School's Jim Thorpe Stadium. 

Athletes like Camden Sateren and Ryan High say the new turf project is more than just a place for sporting events. It is an opportunity for the community of Shawnee to host events and attract visitors. 

"It's giving the community an opportunity to come together and grow together," Sateren said. 

Shawnee High School Athletic Director Dax Leone says a new turf means bringing back Shawnee pride as Jim Thorpe stadium is the largest outdoor venue in town,

Leone says it is a one-of-a-kind turf, and they are the first ones in Oklahoma to have it.

“It's kind of plays like a natural grass surface; it does not have the black pellets; it's got these cooling agents that are actually in the turf that makes it 30 degrees cooler," Leone said. 

Another student program that will benefit from the project is the Shawnee High School Marching Band. 

Band member Sophia Canaga says for the past year, band has been practicing on a grass field and in the school parking lot, making it a little more challenging. 

"It will definitely help future generations of band kids, our freshman or sophomores; it will help them adjust better to turf,” Canaga said. 

Leone says the new turf project should get started at the end of November. Future upgrades also include a new pressbox, scoreboard and goalposts.