Bulldog Field work is back on track after wet May
Days later, workers add more gravel on top of the black tarps June 29.
JENNIFER FIERRO • STAFF WRITER
BURNET — After the wettest May on record in Texas, crews at Bulldog Field have worked from almost sunrise to sunset to get back on schedule installing synthetic turf and a new track.
Burnet Consolidated Independent School District athletic director Kurt Jones said district officials learned of the recent progress about two weeks ago during a meeting.
And Jones believes fall training camp will begin Aug. 3 with his players on their new field.
“Aug. 3 was the original completion date,” he said. “With the progress they made the last two or three weeks, they’re a little ahead of schedule. We feel good about it.”
Burnet will host Llano in the first scrimmage Aug. 14 on the synthetic turf at Bulldog Field
“I feel like we’ll hit that date easily,” Jones said. “We anticipate being on Bulldog Field and working out on the stadium field.”
Jones hopes that preseason practice on the new turf pays off against the Bulldogs’ 2015 opponents, most of which play on artificial turf at home.
The target date for a new scoreboard to be ready is Aug. 10.
“It’ll be here in the nick of time,” the athletic director said with a smile.
Jones anticipates the turf and the eight-lane track will be a source of pride for the Bulldogs.
“I think it’s a great accomplishment for our school district,” he said. “Excitement is really more of the word. We’re all excited about it. The whole community can be proud.”
The athletic director also said April Poerner has accepted the position of girls soccer coach, pending board approval. The next board meeting is 6:30 p.m. July 20 the central office, 208 E. Brier in Burnet.
Poerner arrives from Hill Country Memorial Wellness Center in Fredericksburg.
“She’s a young coach who has a lot of energy and enthusiasm,” Jones said. “We were looking for somebody who can bring energy and is a kid magnet. We want to pump some energy into that program.”
The athletic director said he was pleased with the number of applicants for the position.
“Honestly, I think the thing in the end that impressed our principal, Mark Kincaid, and I was we were looking for someone who could pump some energy in the sport and grow the numbers,” Jones said. “We were blown away by April’s energy. Her personality will be great for Burnet swimming.”
jfierro@thepicayune.com