Bayside Academy officially cut the ribbon for its new turf playing surface at Freedom Track & Field on its campus Thursday.

The dedication took place with plenty of Admiral officials, teachers, coaches and athletes in attendance, as individuals gathered during the school’s community time at 11 a.m.

President Scott Phillipps, Athletic Director Jamie Ferguson and other academy officials first spoke to a large crowd of students before specific kids were brought onto the field to cut the ceremonial ribbon.

Bayside partnered with Warner Athletic to construct the field, with the playing surface itself being a hybrid of two primary materials.

“The whole concept of this was to turn the field into a facility,” Ferguson said. “We had a beautiful surface, but we couldn’t use it much because we’d want to protect the quality of it.”

So thanks to some generous donations from local families, the Admirals were able to come up with the funds to make this renovation happen.

After Ferguson and other Bayside officials traveled around the Southeast to look at different stadiums, they found the playing surface that would suit their school and got to work. 

During the construction process, multiple coaches were also able to lay down bible verses beneath the turf, blessing the field in a literal and figurative sense.

And with the finishing touches being completed last week, the Admirals’ football team can use the field to practice every day after having to travel a couple miles down the road to work at their off-site athletic facility for years.

“This increases their locker-room capabilities and togetherness,” Ferguson said. “It also allows P.E. or weight training classes to come out here, and we can even have recess here.”

Ferguson added that he believes the new field has been used more in its first three days of existence than the old surface was throughout the entirety of last spring, as the school’s soccer and track teams also frequently utilize the facility.

The previously alluded-to off-campus athletic facility will still be used by youth teams and a handful of Bayside programs on occasion, with Ferguson revealing that there are plans to update that site as well.

And speaking of future renovations, the Admirals have their sites set on another major project following the conclusion of this one.

“This was phase one, and it unlocks our potential and capability to dream,” Ferguson said. “And our dream is to have a new gym on our campus here.”

In the immediate future, the new field will be put to the test quickly, as head coach Barrett Trotter and the Bayside football program begin their season Friday at home against Jackson (0-1).