Leander ISD celebrated the completion of new artificial turf baseball and softball fields at Rouse High School with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on November 14th. This milestone marks the first of five LISD high schools set to receive these cutting-edge sports facilities over the next year, thanks to a $27.6 million bond approved by voters.

Transforming the Playing Experience for Student-Athletes

Consistent, Reliable, and Safe Playing Surfaces

The installation of artificial turf fields at Rouse High School has provided a significant upgrade to the playing experience for the school's baseball and softball teams. According to Chief Operating Officer Jeremy Trimble, the new surfaces offer a more consistent, reliable, and safe environment for student-athletes compared to the previous grass and dirt fields. This improvement is particularly crucial in the face of unpredictable weather conditions, which often led to rescheduled games and practices due to muddy field conditions.

Reclaiming Time for Practice and Play

The softball team at Rouse High School previously had to dedicate significant time and effort to maintaining the consistency of the dirt and managing the length of the grass on their previous field. Assistant coach Sadie Hewitt noted that the team would sometimes have to practice on the school's turf football field to prepare for away games against other teams with artificial surfaces. Now, with the new artificial turf field, the softball team can focus more on honing their skills and strategies, rather than spending hours on field upkeep. Head coach Brenda Samuels emphasized that "getting that time back is huge" for the team's development and performance.

Saving Water, Preserving Resources

The benefits of the artificial turf fields extend beyond the playing experience. At a board meeting in October 2023, former Chief Operations Officer Jimmy Disler revealed that LISD would save an impressive 21 million gallons of water per year across the five high schools by installing these artificial turf fields. Trimble highlighted the significance of this water savings, especially in the face of ongoing drought and water restrictions that have taken a toll on the district's natural grass fields.

A Catalyst for Expansion Across the District

The ribbon-cutting ceremony at Rouse High School marks the beginning of a larger initiative within Leander ISD to upgrade the baseball and softball facilities at its remaining four high schools. Trimble shared the district's plans to install new artificial turf fields at Leander High School by late November or early December, followed by Vista Ridge and Cedar Park High Schools in February, and Vandegrift High School this summer. Glenn High School, the district's newest campus, already opened with artificial turf baseball and softball fields in 2016.

Celebrating the Future of Student-Athlete Development

The excitement surrounding the new artificial turf fields was palpable at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The event featured performances by the Rouse High School Band drumline, as well as the school's cheer and dance teams, setting the stage for remarks from Chief Operating Officer Jeremy Trimble and Joshua Mann, the school's athletic coordinator and head football coach. The ceremony culminated in the baseball and softball teams cutting the ribbons to commemorate the completion of their state-of-the-art playing surfaces, marking a new era of athletic excellence and student-athlete development within Leander ISD.