As part of a $1.8 million improvements project, Ronan now has one of three – four counting the University of Montana’s Washington-Grizzly Stadium – football fields with artificial turf in the state, <a href="http://missoulian.com/sports/high-school/article_041ce66e-ae4c-11de-829f-001cc4c03286.html?mode=story" title="according to a story in the Missoulian.”>according to a story in the Missoulian. The other two are in Billings and Laurel.
While the price tag jumps out, it’s actually a reflection of a roadway and parking lot paving project by the school district. The field itself used dirt from the paving project and only cost an additional $600,000 of funds already accumulated by the district. It’s quite a groundbreaking, if not surprising, endeavor for the smallest public high school in Class A with a tradition not really known for football.
Here’s a quote from Jim Benn, the athletic director and football coach, who says he’s “ecstatic”:
“You always have the best surface to practice on and it’s great to practice on. It should minimize injuries. You have lines that you don’t have to paint anymore. That’s two hours a week that I have back in my life. It’s phenomenal. And if you have a fast team, they’re faster.”