With the spring sports season right around the corner, WJ athletes face the big problem of our own mud-drenched fields. The overuse, the geese, and the lack of fencing and sprinkler systems all contribute to the pathetic state of our turf.

But what can be done? The field was temporarily upgraded last summer with new sod for the middle of the field, but to what end? “The upgrades would have worked if we did not have outside groups sneak on our stadium field and damage the turf,” said Athletic Director Sue Amos. Amos explained how no one is to use our stadium field but our teams. Despite this, there is evidence of adult soccer leagues trespassing and pick-up football, soccer and lacrosse games occuring year-round that never allow the field to recuperate from its use.

Most people agree that WJ needs to take preventative measures to stop intruders from using the field. “The field needs to be fenced in during the off-season to keep people off of it and let the new seed grow,” said head football coach Andy Carlstrom. Yet these concerns have not been addressed.

Carlstrom has a legitimate point. Most MCPS high schools fence their field for protection. The schools with decent fields spend lots of money to take care of their grounds. Money isn’t the only problem. “Our own students cut across the field daily going and coming from school. They walk straight across the field, causing a path to form,” said Amos. “Not until the student body starts to take pride in how their school looks will [the field condition problem] be solved,” added Amos.

In addition to the fencing, Carlstrom thinks there are other ways to fix the field. “The geese need to be removed permanently. The school had hired a service to get rid of them and they were gone for a while, but now they are back. No teams should be allowed to practice on [the field] except for a pre-game walkthrough. I’m not sure why these things are not done,” he said.

If the student body doesn’t show Amos that a hefty investment in a field would be taken seriously by the students, we’ll continue to play on the damaged turf. Because of the many variables damaging the field, WJ’s athletics ultimately suffer. When B-CC came to play WJ in football there was a rainstorm and the field fell apart. If we had a decent field, the grass wouldn’t have torn off in the first quarter. That’s part of the reason the football team was 0-5 at home; there wasn’t much of a home-field advantage.

It seems, at least for now, WJ will continue to be embarrassed by its field condition. “It is embarrassing to us when other schools come here and see our dirt field,“ said Carlstrom. “Plus the dust that is kicked up when it is dry makes breathing difficult, and when it rains it becomes a 100-yard mud puddle.”