In less than a month, Seymour High School’s artificial turf has won over the community.
“A lot of people have told me it’s the prettiest field they’ve ever seen,” said athletic director Gary Householder. “An Alabama fan told me a couple of weeks ago that it’s nicer then (the University of Alabama’s) Bryant-Denny Stadium. That’s high praise.”
Workers recently installed the blue and gold AstroTurf® (GameDay Grass™ 3D H 52) field. They completed installation on March 15 in time for Seymour High School’s first home soccer game on March 18.
The school’s lacrosse and soccer teams have played on the field, Householder said. The football team will hold its first practice on the newly surfaced field next month.
“It’s a big source of pride for our school and our community,” he said. “Community members will come up here and just look at it. Most of us didn’t think we’d ever get it. We’re a public high school in a rural/suburban area.”
In June 2013, the Sevier County Board of Education voted to use capital outlay funds to put artificial turf on the school district’s five high school football fields: Gatlinburg-Pittman High School, Northview Academy, Pigeon Forge High School, Sevier County High School and Seymour High School. The project’s estimated cost is $2.2 million, including $1.5 million from the district.
The City of Gatlinburg paid for the Gatlinburg-Pittman High’s field, and the cities of Pigeon Forge and Sevierville are each contributing $300,000 toward the schools within their city limits. Sevier County Schools put an additional $200,000 toward Seymour High, which has no municipality to provide additionsl financial support.
Fundraising Plans
As part of the arrangement, Seymour volunteered to raise $100,000 to defray costs. It plans to raise between $15,000 and $20,000 per year, which would allow the school to pay off its debt in five years.
Seymour High School is currently organizing several fundraisers, including a concert that will be held 7 p.m. May 31 in the Seymour High School’s auditorium, Householder said. “We want to raise money without hurting other programs. It’s not an easy time with the economy.”
Seymour High hopes to raise $5,000 at the concert. Former Eagles — Kerigan Newport, a former softball player; Matt Shular, a former linebacker who performs in a Pigeon Forge dinner show; Charlie Bob Smith, a former all-state quarterback who performs a the Smith Family Dinner Theater; and Ben Whisler, a former baseball player whose debut single, “Where the Moon Shines,” found airplay on Knoxville radio station WIVK — will perform at the upcoming concert.
Admission is $10. All presold tickets are reserved seating, and tickets purchased a the gate are general admission.
Improvements End
Seymour High School’s athletic facilities are in “good shape” after the field improvements, Householder said. Officials have made “a lot of facility improvements in the last several years,” including:
- a new press box about three years ago;
- additional football stadium seating about two years ago;
- a gym addition the increased its seating capacity to 1,600.
The school has several “minor” projects that it hopes to address in the near future, including:
- storage/restrooms for the baseball field;
- resurfacing the track;
- and stadium bleachers for the visiting team’s band.
Householder wanted to publicly thank the Sevier County Board of Education, Director of Schools Jack Parton and the Seymour community for supporting its athletic programs. “It’s been a true team effort to get us here.”
By Matthew Stewart / Courtesy of The Daily Times