Photo Courtesy of Susquehanna Athletics
By Ashley Nace
You see the names, the faces, the results, but what about the facilities?
Every day, everywhere, there is some kind of work or upkeep being done to the Susquehanna University athletic fields. Whether it’s mowing, watering or even fertilizing the fields, the grounds crew is always hard at work.
But why do they do it?
“Look good, play good,” said Interim Director of Athletics Jim Findlay. “If we’re playing on good and practicing on good surfaces, then it’s going to help us, you know, feel good about it.”
The athletic fields, both grass and turf, require a lot of attention and upkeep to be at their best and safest quality for student athletes to play and practice on.
“The Sassafras Multipurpose Field, home to men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s lacrosse and field hockey and Amos Alonzo Stagg Field, home to the football team, require special treatments,” Findlay said.
He explained that once a week, the fields are treated. He said a machine is attached to the back of a four-by-four that drives across the turf picking up debris, such as leaves, prewrap and other things that may get blown around on the turf.
Another machine is then attached that grooms the field, loosening up the rubber and raising the turf blades, he said.
“And then twice a year, we have somebody come in and do a deep spray of those turf fields as well,” Findlay said.
Aside from the turf fields, the grass fields receive their own separate forms of treatment.
The softball and baseball fields each encompass grass outfields. The rugby field next to Shobert Hall and the practice field next to Sassafras are grass as well.
How are they kept looking so nice?
“I work hand-in-hand with the director of the grounds crew,” said Findlay. “It’s Matt Slingerland.”
Slingerland, who has been employed by the university for 16 years and is now the landscape services manager, said that the grass fields get mowed three times a week.
He said that the grounds crew lines the athletic fields of in-season sports once a week, waters them when needed and fertilizes them every now and again. He said they try not to put chemicals like fertilizers on the fields during periods of heavy use for the safety of athletes.
When sports seasons wind down, the crew also aerate the fields, Slingerland said.
Findlay said the softball and baseball fields also have their own new self-mowers to trim their outfields to help keep up with how rapidly the grass grows, especially in the summer months.
“You know, if workers are on vacation and the grass gets a little bit higher, those mowers tend to help keep up,” Findlay said.
Both Findlay and Slingerland commented on how this past summer’s weather conditions affected the condition of the fields. The grass has never looked better.
“The rain really helped,” Slingerland said.
Both Slingerland and Findlay said that the perfect combination of rain and sun facilitated quick, green growing grass this summer.
Slingerland also said that the grounds crew implemented new applications and treatments, including fertilizers, that aided in the growth. He explained that, because of the rain, the crew was able to perform these treatments more often.
Slingerland said that, when these treatments are performed under dry conditions, it stresses out the grass.
“Without the rain to wash it in, it becomes a lot more difficult,” Slingerland said.
The safety, look and feel of the surfaces the Susquehanna student athletes play and practice on are all a result of a dedicated and passionate grounds crew that strives to provide its athletes with the best facilities possible.
“I have an incredible crew with great attitudes and I work with some incredible people over here,” Slingerland said.
The River Hawks athletic teams continue to grow and improve alongside their facilities.
“It’s our goal in athletics to provide the best playing surfaces for our student athletes” Findlay said.