Mitchell football's new home nearing completion
A major Mitchell High School athletics project is nearing completion.
As of last week, the patch of grass where the Bluejacket football team has played on for years was instead a bed of rock waiting for an artificial turf surface to be installed.
When that turf is finally laid down — it’s expected to be done before their Aug. 19 opener against Edgewood — it will be transformational for their program. It's the culmination of heavy investment in athletics from the community which first-year Mitchell coach Kevin Kling is grateful for.
“I can’t thank this community enough for doing what they’ve done and the board and our administration have pushed to get this done,” Kling said. “It’s going to be incredible to have that facility.”
Not only will the new playing surface enhance the gameday experience for players and fans alike, Mitchell will also benefit from it during practice. The Bluejackets will no longer have to estimate and eyeball distance when they’re lining up, they’ll know exactly where they’re at on the field, which will lead to improved confidence and efficiency. There will also be no need for them to trudge through the parking lot and across the street to get to practice from their locker room anymore, which will also help tighten up the Bluejackets’ practices.
It’ll also take some work off the shoulders of Mitchell’s coaches and support staff. Nobody will have to find time to mow the field before gameday, nor will anybody have to take the time to meticulously paint the gridiron onto it. There will be no reason for the field to not be pristine when the Bluejackets get to work on Friday nights.
“It’s hard for a coach to come out and paint it all the time or a custodial team to come out and paint it because they’ve got all these buildings to take care of,” Kling said. “It just doesn’t stay where it needs to stay and that facility is going to be a permanent mark for us to be able to do what we need to do.”
The Bluejackets will host at least four games on their new field this season — taking on Edgewood in the opener, then playing Crawford County a month later before playing Scottsburg and Perry Central in two of their final three games — but could certainly add to that based on their sectional draw or any schedule alterations that may arise.
Even if it only ends up being four games though, the addition is one that will greatly benefit the program for years to come.“Once we get there, I think you’re going to see a whole different ballgame with how we line up and how we know where we’re supposed to be,” Kling said. ‘I think it’ll change our game.”
Contact Times-Mail sports reporter Auston Matricardi via e-mail at amatricardi@tmnews.com or on Twitter at @amatricardiTM.
This article originally appeared on The Times-Mail: New Mitchell football field nearing completion with season approaching
