While the Tyrone soccer teams have been excited about the new turf field for some time, they’re not the only ones who will benefit from the $1.5 million synthetic surface.

The new field will also impact all Tyrone middle and high school students who take physical education classes.

Physical Education teacher Tom Coleman said that the new surface will allow him and his fellow Phys Ed teachers to get more creative with the activities they offer to students now that they have access to a consistent weather-resistant surface.

“We’re really excited about the turf. It will allow us to schedule activities that we wouldn’t be able to do on natural grass,” Coleman said.

A well-maintained natural turf field can withstand only about 800 hours a year of use whereas a synthetic turf field can withstand thousands of hours more without significant surface damage.

Coleman says the Phys Ed department plans to develop activities like ultimate frisbee, football, and potentially even lacrosse on the new turf field.

Unlike the grass surface at the track, one day of heavy rain won’t cause the gym teachers to veer off their planned schedule for days or weeks on end.

More importantly, synthetic turf is engineered to dry much more rapidly than a natural grass surface, meaning that students can exercise safely without slipping and falling, even if there has been recent precipitation.

Students are excited about the possible new units for gym class.

“Lacrosse would be very cool, as most students don’t have the opportunity to play the sport outside of school,” Tyrone sophomore Kaleb Sweitzer said.

Both the high school and middle school gym classes will use the turf throughout the school year.

The field was finished in the mid-summer of 2023 and should be reliable for many years to come.