Owen is expected to have a new artificial turf field ready in time for the 2016 season.
SWANNANOA – Say goodbye to the playing surface which gave rise to Western North Carolina’s all-time leading rusher.
Workers with Austin (Tex.) Hellas Construction began ripping up the artificial turf at Owen on Monday.
Their field-replacement is expected to be done well before the first official day of practice for all NCHSAA football teams (Aug. 1).
“They were tearing down one half and we practiced on the other,” Warhorses football coach Nathan Padgett said.
“We broke it down one last time inside the ‘O’ and it was a little emotional. We are going to replace the O with a horse shoe and I think every one of our kids is ready to embrace the changes.”
Former Owen back Jager Gardner rushed for 6,955 yards and was the 2014 Citizen-Times All-WNC Player of the Year as a senior. He is a rising sophomore at Temple University.
Hellas is best known as the company which installed the turf at the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium. Hellas has been looking to expand its operations to the east coast which is partly the reason why Erwin and Owen are getting its services.
Erwin’s field is only lacking about seven to nine days to its competition. Hellas is waiting for gray-colored carpet with red lettering to arrive. That turf will be planted in each end zone.
In the meantime, Hellas is starting on its next project commissioned by Buncombe County Schools.
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