The Waltonian

It became a norm to mock and critique the process, a term or slogan that was adapted to describe the state and future hopes of Philadelphia basketball. They were challenged to overcome doubts and statistics alike. Analysis examined constantly the cost for this team to beat the odds in order to establish a firm winning season. Then something happened, the 2019 NBA games. The Philadelphia 76ers (47-26) stand at third place in the Eastern Conference and clinched a playoff berth on Sunday March 17 with high hopes.

The lineup consisted of Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and veteran JJ Redick. These three were admired throughout Philadelphia previous seasons, but something was missing. As games pressed on into late quarters, all eyes could tell the team would benefit from bench depth. Injuries and lack of player support prolonged the process of Philadelphia from enjoying NBA playoffs at Wells Fargo Center. The 2019 season brought some promising potential and key components. Board meetings studied the numbers and compared the odds, calls were made, and then suddenly the headlines erupted: Sixers welcome all-stars Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris.

Sunday March 17 revived reminscening emotions Philadelphia fans felt back in the early 2000’s. These same emotions that were buried deep in disappointment of years and years without a Sixers playoff appearance, one that ended a long streak (six seasons) last year. Their entry did not come easy as that had to overcome the team with the best record in the NBA, the Milwaukee Bucks.

This game did not only eradicate the doubts that Sixers can defeat elite teams, but it also ensured the chemistry developing between this diversely talented rotation. The team played outstandingly. Embiid had himself a 40-point game returning from knee soreness that sidelined him for a few games. His teammates contributed to the Sixers dominating performance with Butler scoring 27, Redick 19, and Harris 12 points.

As the playoffs draw near the 76ers look to tighten up a few nuts-n-bolts. Their coach, Brett Brown, is confident the team can strengthen their chemistry within the remaining few weeks. The new additions to the team have given the Sixers a strong position to succeed, they simply seek to discover the most effective way to corporate each player.

Right now it’s a great time to be a Philadelphia sports fan as the city gets to witness big name talent while enjoying some extended season games. Become a part of the magic. Plan a trip or host a game, it’s possible we are watching history in the making, don’t miss out.

When I think of traveling, I imagine hectic check-in lines, delayed flights, and being out of breath because you had to run to the very end of the airport after passing through security. Luggage gets lost, and people get pushy all because everyone has a destination to reach. Destination: is it a place or is it a dream? That ultimately is left up to the traveler. Not every place you travel to lives up to your expectations, but then there are places that reflect something you always dreamed of.

From the time when I was twelve years old, I have traveled to multiple states and a few countries for different purposes. Either my family and I were heading to vacation in Virginia, or I was serving as a missionary in Bolivia. In my life so far, I have lived by plane, car, and train. My hope is to someday travel by boat or helicopter just for the sake of adventure. Most of my travels have been the cause of invitation to deliver a sermon, attend conferences as a guest minister, or to serve alongside close friends already living a life of ministry. Within the last five years, I have traveled to about seven states, learning about the communities and having the opportunity to compare them to my hometown, Philadelphia.

Last summer was unique as I got to travel to two new places; one state and one country all within less than a month from one another. My first stop? Sioux Center, Iowa. During the Spring 2018 semester, I decided to take an offer that I couldn’t refuse. The chance to study and train as a student journalist, which entailed a semester’s worth of assignments for two weeks straight. Everything from room to meals was completely covered in cost, and I simply had to save up money for interconnected flights. I traveled from the Philadelphia airport to Chicago, and from Chicago to Iowa. Big and small planes alike with just me, myself, and I. Oh, and of course God.

A few months before traveling to Iowa or the midwest for the first time in my life, I had decided to volunteer once again for missionary work, but this time in Europe. Previously I only served in countries like Honduras, where I distributed supplies to the rural areas. During my freshman year at Eastern, I got the opportunity to travel to Bolivia through a program called, A Breeze of Hope, where they informed us in depth about sexual abuse and how to counsel/comfort victims. During the summer of 2018, my local church planned a missionary to Austria, where we were instructed to evangelize European communities and train the leaders/staff of a one year church-plant. Each of these destinations have marked my life in numerous ways, from shaping my character and focus for the better, to continually lending out a helping hand.

If you never have traveled before, I encourage you to take the first step of acceptance. Although it will take more than just your faith to reach new places, nevertheless, in the midst of your wishful thinking, promise to yourself to never stop dreaming. Acceptance is a strong foundation that leads to progress or advancement, realizing where you currently are and where you desire to be. Traveling can be used for all types of purposes: celebrations, assignments, missions, or vacations. It’s the wonder of going from here to there that’s akin to our nature, something every human being strives after.

Last Sunday marked eleven years of the NFL ondon Classic, featuring the Philadelphia Eagles vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium. The first game dates back to the 2007 NFL season when the stadium opened up, extending permission to host yearly professional American football games.

Similar to the annual NHL Winter Classic that hosts three outdoor hockey matches in multiple cities, including the use of a few MLB stadiums, the NFL London games setup play in recently established football stadiums, sending a few teams to play at least once a year intentionally. Here the FA England team has a partnership with the owners of the stadium to have liberty hosting home games where the fans come gather in support. London fans have shown their dedication to the NFL games, so much so that the league predicts a potential London franchise by at least the year 2023.

About 1.5 million people have gathered in attendance throughout the NFL London matches. Plans incorporate the use of three stadiums home to either the English soccer team or national rugby team, within the revenues Tottenham, Wembley and Twickenham. Tottenham will hold a 10 year contact to host two games per year, as the new stadium unveils this year. According to Murad Ahmed in the Financial Times report, “the NFL is attempting to grow by gaining a foothold in other countries.” As the years add up with an established presence of American football, more supporters continue to reveal their approval.

The man behind-the-scenes discussing moves and laying out the framework over the next few years, is NFL’s Executive Vice President of International, Mark Waller. Waller in 2014 was elected for this position, both for his experience and influence in international business. There may be no one better to understand London’s admiration of football than a British native himself. Waller believes the plans for franchise are possible and promising. Last year when anticipating an NFL checklist of approval he stated, “The fundamental question, which we are as yet unable to answer, is: could a team in London be competitive week in, week out, year in, year out?” His vision is to expand the league overseas with a range from six to ten countries willing to corporate and have international play, each with the same potential for a chance to win a Super Bowl.

This November will also feature the NFL’s return to Mexico City, which held the very first game outside of the U.S. back in 2005. London continues to be a favorite contender to possibly move an already established NFL franchise, the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars currently hold an agreement to play three times in London as part of their season schedule. The owner Sadiq Khan believes the move may be of best interest for the team, as they have struggled financially in the past and have yet to win a Super Bowl. With London’s vibrant economy, marketing sponsors, and massive fanbase, any team place there is expected to thrive.

Sources: ESPN, Financial Times

There are numerous ways to answer why we do what we do or why we believe what we believe. It is a self-reflective thought, one that no one can answer for us without stepping into privacy boundaries. Almost like going to the beach to tan in the sun, set up a chair, or squeeze our toes against the warm cozy sand. We rather choose to stay on the surface level, than to dig for treasure. Yes, it does take effort and segments of our time, but there is a gratifying sensation to go beyond where many have not yet reach. When entering into someone’s privacy, it is well to hold the reminder of this illustration: Remaining on the surface is appealing, but digging in the sand gives a chance to discover unclaimed pearls.

Kiriam Yordan-Ortiz, 19, was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico on Nov. 8th, 1998. Currently he lives in Hazleton, PA and is a resident student in his junior year at Eastern. If you were to ask him what he thinks about interpersonal relationships, he would say how he’s considered to be quite a conversationalist. A people person. He finds freedom having the opportunity to engage with hearty and sometimes uneasy subjects. But no matter the length of the process, he believes open discussions are the best way to authentically understand each other and our surroundings.

Nov. 8th, 2016. Does this date look familiar? For Ortiz it is one he can never forget. A day full of excitement, full of wonder, full of knick-knacks and chit-chats going on from sunrise to sunset. There was commotion in the streets, in the byways and highways ever so jam packed it would discourage anyone from wanting to leave the comfort of their bed. But someone did, that someone was Kiriam. It was a day of celebration and the gathering of loved ones, but something overshadowed all of the gifts, cards, and praises. It was America’s 58th quadrennial presidential election between Donald J. Trump and Hillary Clinton. A day some choose to forget, not necessarily for the need to cast votes, but possibly for the mockery and unpredictable future of this country. Oh, and not to forget. For Ortiz it was his birthday.

It was a Tuesday, a very dark day that was cloudy and rainy all morning during Ortiz’s freshman year. “I felt dreadful. Just wanted to avoid going to the booth. I decide to go vote at around 7pm that evening for my first voting experience,” said Ortiz. For Kiriam his first time voting was “tricky” not due to the voting process itself, but for having to make a choice between what he calls “the lesser of two evils”. He chooses to not judge people based on their vote during the 2016 election, as he realized the whole nation was stuck in an uncomfortable place.

Ortiz grew familiar with politics and regional campaigning in Puerto Rico. He grew up witnessing his parents assist first-hand in the community fundraisers and promotion of elections so that people would vote. “It comes natural to me to be involved in politics. My dad has been involved since 1979, he started when he was 16. He served in local politics, state, and regional. He worked representatives, worked for mayors, and governors. So he knows the whole shebang, and my mom got into it when they got married. They had me help out with the endorsements,” said Ortiz.

Puerto Rico politics were quite distinct to elections held in America. For many years the political parties were dictated, where as Ortiz chimes, “The political party of our city did not win until 1988, after being established in the mid-50’s.” The only way to see change in the city, was for the people to vote or nothing would ever get done. It took enough persuasion and reasoning.

With the recent Judge Kavanaugh case followed closely by the media and protests, as well as the persisting emotions from the 2016 election, Ortiz stills encourages students and faculty to take out a moment of their day to vote this November. He advocates for the freedom to have a voice and the right to elect our nation’s leaders. It’s not a disadvantage.

“Whether you are a democrat, a republican, or an independent, go out and vote. Be sure your vote is genuine, and think of what’s best for our country. Those in congress should not rule based on what’s best for their party, but what’s best for the people,” Ortiz disclosed.

On September 24th, the Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame wide receiver Tommy McDonald died at age 84. The city of Philadelphia mourns the loss of a man who influenced his community on and off the field. A man of character and integrity that many remember him for his committed work ethics, talents, or simply respect.

McDonald’s legacy is quite inspirational to football players athletes young and old. The wide receiver contributed a big role to the Philadelphia Eagles organization and quarterback Norm Van Brocklin, who helped them win the 1960 NFL Championship. What makes McDonald unique from most pro football players was his ability to play the game against odds and murmuring of critics, that believed he was ‘too small to play in the NFL’. Despite the criticism, the Eagles drafted McDonald as a third round pick in 1957.

New Mexico was the birthplace of Tommy McDonald where he developed skills to play football, basketball, and track during high school. McDonald did not allow limitations be an excuse for him not to exceed expectations. His rookie season in the NFL began on kick returns and punts. In a game against the Washington Redskins, McDonald was placed as a flanker mid-season. This gave way to an unforgettable bond between QB Norm Van Brocklin and McDonald. He went on to scoring two touchdowns, one a 61-yarder that left everyone in awe.

The most memorable touchdown pass in Eagles franchise history, was a 35-yard catch by McDonald surpassing the Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers in a 17-13 win at Franklin Field. According to ESPN, with Philadelphia for seven seasons, “the durable McDonald” had 287 receptions for 5,499 yards, with a per-catch average of 19.2 yards. He had 66 touchdowns in 88 games, and No. 25 went to the Pro Bowl five straight seasons (1959-63). Despite ranking second in league history in touchdown catches, fourth in yards receiving and sixth in receptions by his retirement in 1968, McDonald (5-foot-7, 175 lbs.) had to wait 30 years before becoming the smallest player ever inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

He played 12 NFL seasons for five teams and finished as a six-time Pro Bowler.

“Tommy McDonald played the game with a passion and energy that was second to none,” Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said in a statement. “He will be remembered as one of the most exciting players ever to play his position, but what really separated him and made him so unique was the infectious personality and charisma that he brought to his everyday life. He had a genuine love for this team, for the Philadelphia community, for the fans, and, of course, his family. He was a man of character, both on and off the field, who exemplified all the qualities that we hope to represent as an organization.

“He was a champion, a Pro Football Hall of Famer, and one of the most genuine individuals I have ever met. On behalf of the Philadelphia Eagles, I would like to express our deepest condolences to the entire McDonald family.”

McDonald will continue to live on in every Philadelphians mind and heart. This patriotic city of sports lifts up the fallen Eagle with high esteem. May he soar on through his legacy and family.

Sources: ESPN, Official Philadelphia Eagles

Every sports team can be caught up in or with a series of opponents, in which all athletes attempt to give their best performance yet. With a long history together or a new matchup against an opponent within one’s division, conference, or region that always creates tension/obstacles in order to succeed, is how we will define a rival. Although some are permanent while others are temporary, what truly stirs up a fierce rivalry is loyalty; home turf and fanatics.

According to KPLU’s Sports Commentator Art Thiel, the two elements that make up a great rivalry is “stakes and proximity”. What is being offered and/or sacrificed? How often must we see each others faces? These are the questions that arise within a rivalry, and these questions are what leads to extraordinary or mediocre performances.

There are many places to beginning with but let’s explore the element of proximity. Eastern University’s historic Eagle Road Rivalry with Cabrini University in the men’s basketball conference. The two teams formerly facing off time and time again contending for their division lead, helped to create intensity felt by the players, coaches, and students. The geography between the universities also gave the rivalry a special flavor, for neither team wanted to hang their head in defeat, while across the street shouts of celebration filled the sky. Fans like to add fuel to the fire, two years ago at a Cabrini’s men’s basketball game, EU students bringing tension to the court with loud and disruptive behavior, to the point a player was given the nickname “chicken legs”.

Some rivalries are identified by an organization or institution as a whole. An example of this is seen with Messiah College. Just like Eastern they are a faith-based Christian college that also has a firmly established athletics department, and they make it a challenge to compete against them.

A team rivalry that supports Art Thiel’s stakes theory would be none other than Eastern’s women’s volleyball against Juniata college. These two teams go toe-to-toe down to the wire during before regular and postseason matchups. This rivalry birthed out of the teams determination to excel and out come as victors of the NCAA Sweet 16 tournament. Both teams acknowledge the talent and spirit of the athletes, and look forward to facing off when stakes are on the line. John Post, Associate Athletic Director for Compliance and Sports Medicine/Head Athletic Trainer says the rivalry is, “one of mutual respect so it’s not ugly. I would also say that is true with DeSales as we have battled it out for the last 7 years straight for the Freedom title!”

For research purposes we asked the EU teams and athletes to share their thoughts about their rivals, and that the student body may be aware of them in order to support the teams during tough matchups.

Sabrina Thomas of the women’s softball team claimed that their rivalry is Del Val.

“They give a great competition and the games always keep you on edge,” Thomas said.

Sal Tortora of the men’s golf team also had a claim on who is the rival team for them

“I would say Manhattanville because they are the ones that beaten us in the conference championship recently. They have had a deep team the past few years which have allowed them to win,” Tortora said. For the women’s golf team, Elaina Mcgarrigle claimed another team for their rivals.

“Stevenson and Alvernia,” Mcgarrigle said.

For the lacrosse teams, each one had a team that they would name their rivals.

“Manhattanville,” Alison Andres of the women’s lacrosse team said.

However, the men’s lacrosse team had another school they deemed as their rival.

“Our top rival is Misericordia by far. They’re known around here as miserablecordia because of how much we butt heads when we go against each other. It’s always a battle back and forth. We want nothing but to bury them every time we face them,” Alec Morshead said.

Track and Field at Eastern had some overlapping rivals to some of the other teams.

“Misericordia and Stevenson,” Katelyn Bernotas said.

The tennis teams agree that Wilkes is their top rival.

“It’s hard to beat them,” Lauren Good said.

The field hockey team claimed that Fairleigh Dickinson University is their main rival and Alison Hoag reflected on what it is like to compete against a rival.

“When you play against your rival, you can sometime see yourself become a different individual or player, because that emotion only comes around every now and again, and you feed off of it. You know that once you step on the field/court, it’s not just a small battle; it’s a full out war,” Hoag said.

A return from an ACL and LCL injury always causes some hesitation and scares to a crowd. Whether it is baseball, football, or any sport, experts can testify the difficulty it is for athletes to perform at their normal or former level. In some cases there are exceptions, this may possibly be said for the Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback Carson Wentz.

In his debut against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Wentz went 25 of 37 for 255 yards, a touchdown and one interception. As the Eagles defeated the Colts 20-16 he quickly reassured Philly fans he is capable to compete in the 2018-2019 NFL season. Wentz threw the game’s very first touchdown pass in the 1st quarter, a task that the Eagles faced difficulty completing in their preseason and season opener. “It was a long time coming,” said Wentz.

As much as the fans have been curious and excited for Wentz’s return, his teammates opening expressed their thoughts towards him. During the offseason, Wentz led practices with the scout team and his performance left the team in wonder.

“You saw what he did last year, and when he came on scout team, he was doing it [again] and I was like, ‘Man, this guys is special.’ He was making some crazy throws,” Jones said.

The same can be said of Wentz during his debut, as when the pocket collapsed, he managed to squeeze his way through and putting up a fight to be sacked by defenders. The opening throws contained a series of long passes, at times in tight places, but regardless making them on the dime for a catch.

Cornerback Sidney Jones said, “I’ve seen greatness, man.” Just like the players, Coach Pederson also believes Wentz’s performance is the best he’s ever seen. The team using player-tracking technology have witnessed that Wentz’s arm is “the strongest it’s ever been previous years.”

“The thing is, I’m not going to coach scared. I’m not going to coach paranoid,” Pederson said. “I’m not going to go in thinking, ‘Oh, no, we can’t do this, we can’t do that.’ We just have to continue to go play and I [have] to coach that way. That’s where the confidence with the team comes, by doing that.”

During Sunday’s game the Eagles QB had a face of determination and confidence. The experience of injury on a professional level has completely shaped his character for years to come. The way he praised, encouraged, and remained present for the team speaks great volume of the culture they continue to build. “It’s been a long process for him, but I think he did what he could to build up his body,” said Johnson. “He looks stronger physically than what he did last year. He’s looking good.”

Wentz does not expect opponents to take it easy on him this season, they will bring everything they got, but he promises the same in his return. On a rainy day to begin the first weekend of Fall in Philadelphia, Wentz became the weather-master at home before a crowd of fans who missed him long enough.

Sources: ESPN

Imagine growing up in a cozy sized family, surrounded by siblings to love and learn from each other. During childhood brothers and sisters create bonds that influence their adult lives, but some moments in life begin to lead siblings on the road to independence. What does it look like to have siblings in college? Or compete alongside one another in a D3 race on the Cross Country team? The three Bernotas sisters know the feeling of sharing a commonly distinct college experience.

Megan and Katelyn are returning track and cross country athletes for Eastern within their junior and sophomore years. Mary is a newcomer who joined cross country this year as a freshman.The following interview is consisted of a series of dialogue:

Q: How long have you all played sports together?

Megan: We moved from Nebraska to Maryland and all started at St. Basil’s for grade school and middle school. I was in six grade, Katelyn in fifth, and Mary in fourth so all back to back. Through middle school into high school we all started running track together, and now we’re here.

Q: What was the motivation to begin track?

Katelyn: Definitely our Dad! He did sports in both high school and college and was very into track. We would always go to the track with him when we were little and watch him run. Just always wanted to be like him (Megan chimes in, “a trackstar”).

Q: How many siblings are there in the family?

Mary: We have two more, Lizzy and Bobby. Bobby will be a junior in high school, and Lizzy is in eighth grade. She’s a little trackstar too, (they say harmoniously) she’s good.

Q: What does it mean to each of you being on the team together in college?

Mary: It’s truly an experience not a lot of people get, running with not even one but two sisters, especially in college. That’s pretty unique. To actually run on the same relay team is cool, and I’m excited for that. We don’t have to worry about competing against each other at three different schools, but get to be teammates and continue to train together.

Megan: I love running with my sisters they push me to be better everyday on and off the track. I’m just excited to compete with them this year, both of them. It’s going to be a good time.

Katelyn: I already experienced a little bit of running with Megan when we was on the same relay team last year. Three relays- the DMR (Distance Medley Relay), 4 by 8, and 4 by 4. So that was fun. She always knows how to tell me to “speed it up” or “you got this”. We push each other on to be the best we can be, and are excited to bring Mary into it.

Q: How do you help each other overcome difficulty?

Megan: Just being there for each other, it’s nice having them on campus. As we grew up together now I can go to them whenever I need to talk or am having a bad day.

Katelyn: It’s different from talking to another teammate, because they have always been there. Especially if it’s like something going on at home they would completely understand.

Mary: It’s a bit different for me where they can really hit home on any personal struggles or things they notice. They call me out and say “I know how good you can be” or “We have seen and know where you should be at”. That’s something not every teammate can do because they don’t know you as well.

All around us are messages calling out for attention either to influence or persuade for a larger cause. One of the most effective ways to advertise in this day and age is through TV commercials according to CNBC Catalyst’s Lead Creative Strategist, Katya Ionova, report in 2016. With 75 years of marketing, television had “37% of global ad spend in 2015.” From Super Bowl commercials to a random guy dressed as a clown in a Geico ad, America is captivated by advertisements. Aware of these statistics, the Eastern University Marketing Department is shaking up the way that messages are received.

Michael Thomas, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Eastern, met for a face-to-face interview where he broke down the process on how to make not only an original piece, but also something never before seen. When asked about how many video projects have been produced by EU, Thomas laughed and simply said, “It’s hard to tell. Lots!” The first commercial we examined together was Eastern’s latest video promoting their graduate programs. For those who have not yet seen it, the commercial begins in a classroom in Walton giving a classical look to the setting. As the lecture is given, every student’s laptop along with the room begins to tremble and the view outside of the windows start to shift the environment. Suddenly, the classroom becomes a train with the main character completing her daily online lecture. She briefly states to self, “A classroom doesn’t have to be a building…”

Hold on, let’s rewind for a moment. Many questions are firing out all at once. The trembling? Shifting shadows? A train?! That last one, yes a train indeed. Michael please illuminate us. “It took two full days of shooting, full days being eight to ten hours. We used Walton 3 classroom and wanted to create an evening look, but it was actually the middle of the day. For this effect the team used ‘warm lighting’ which is an orange color and placed them outside of the windows shining in,” Thomas said. Day one was classroom filming, day two was filming underground at Suburban station in Septa’s regional rail train car. Green screens helped create the moving images of the background environment.

The creative team made up of Lisa Woods (Visual Content Director), Aidan Guynes (Lead Videographer) and Michael Thomas spend vigorous hours planning for these projects. The three have worked together on videos for many years. This commercial was inspired by a previous train ad from Eastern featuring the graduate programs. Thomas also revealed the department’s newest method of promotion, video ads. These ads are catching people’s attention as they seem to be still and normal, until a random motion takes place. Some examples of this include bouncing words, moving portraits or taking a selfie. All of this, Thomas says, basically “makes fun of ads. Humor is a great way to reach out to people. Someone even called it Hogwarts Ads.”A sneak peek of what to expect next is a brand new campus tour video and EU seasons.

Source: CNBC

Over the summer Eastern’s Athletic department went forward approving plans to reinforce the turf fields. What most of the campus community does not know is the measures taken in order to accomplish the new turf installments. Come and take an exclusive look with Athletic Communicator Dan Mouw about the process that goes unseen.

Long hot and sunny days rule the summer. Residency on campus is calm and collective with noise solely from preparations for the upcoming semester. But with a quick peek out of Kea-Guffin or Gough Halls windows, anyone can spot what looks like a sports summer camp? An army of kids about 400 all retreating to their teams fill up the turf, they glare at each other in anticipation to guess their opponent’s strategy for a friendly (or aggressive) game of soccer. The afternoon stretches to its final minutes of daylight before the evening comes, and the kids begin to walk off the field (some victorious and others defended) to rest. By nightfall the turf slowly recovers from “wear and tear” for another day of games. The story repeats itself on and on every summer, or at least that’s how it use to be until now.

In 2005, Eastern University installed turf on the fields that were expected to last up to 10 years according to Mouw, but over time the sunlight absorbed and constant use caused for the turf to weaken. The turf fields lasted up until Spring 2018.

“For us it became an issue of we need to replace these, because of player safety and due to the Universities agreement of usage to receive revenue from summer camps and clinics”, says Mouw.

The Process

A two to three year process of new turf installments began in 2016, beginning with last year’s realization of endangerment to players’ health if reused any longer. This decision became popular among EU coaches to benefit their sports teams. One coach himself Kevin Wallace, lacrosse, participated with deciding the final product to be installed. An outside company began working two days after graduation last spring, cutting the turfs and racing against deadlines. For turf to be installed workers have to layout a series of layers: big stones, smaller rocks, and “crumb rubber” to top it off (this gives them a bouncy feel and reduces injuries). The project was completed within a two to three week period.

The Flood

Each of the turf fields have designated material that support the teams such as field hockey or soccer during their play. This summer the workers faced challenges of extreme weather, even a flood sweeping through the campus days after. But the turf experienced no damage due to its ability to absorb water. The rain only caused for the workers to have to refill the gravel and it lay even.

“We made a decision to limit some lines. So we will be doing some painting of lines during the season, particularly for lacrosse. The point of that is the fewer curved lines you have creates fewer seams which increases the durability,” says Mouw.