Home Turf: Agnes Irwin’s New Fields Unlock Potential for Owl Athletics

By Abbe Wright ‘03

On a crisp October afternoon, parents, faculty, coaches, alumnae, and student-athletes gathered along Carter Field to applaud the opening of Agnes Irwin's two new, best-in-class turf fields.

Even more, the ribbon-cutting ceremony heralded a new era in Agnes Irwin athletics, one that signals the program’s ambitions and primes it for unprecedented heights.

Carter Field had been due for a makeover to smooth out its bumpy grass surface. Then, after 10 years of use by the field hockey, soccer, softball, and lacrosse teams, Phelps Field was also due for a new turf. Agnes Irwin saw the chance not merely to replace both facilities but to improve them.

The school researched options and saw how the fields could distinguish themselves, not only in the highly competitive Inter-Ac league but also one from the other.

Phelps’s new surface is ideal for the pace of soccer and lacrosse, while Carter’s features friction-reducing technology that enables field hockey balls to zoom across the carpet with ease and precision.

The Paris GT Zero turf on Carter is regarded as the premier surface in the world for field hockey, and it’s the choice of the U.S. National Field Hockey team. Agnes Irwin is the only independent school in Pennsylvania to have such a field.

“Our outstanding athletes are able to play on facilities that reflect their exceptional talents and commitment,” Co-Athletic Director Courtney Lubbe said at the ribbon-cutting.

The new fields look good, and they sound good. But how do they play?

Junior Gabby Bongiorno said she and her soccer teammates felt an immediate difference playing on the new Phelps turf for the first time this fall.

“It’s a lot softer, and the ball travels really smoothly along the surface,” she said. “I feel faster on it.”

Junior Piper Rodgers, who plays field hockey and lacrosse, said Carter's new surface similarly “speeds up ball movement. It allows us to further develop our skills, because it makes you have better ball control and handle passes that are coming at you quickly.”

The capital investment of installing two turf fields was significant — and possible only because of donations by the Agnes Irwin community to the FOR THE WIN campaign.

“It shows that people are recognizing how much work we put in,” Piper said of the philanthropic gifts.

One such donor was Emily Wilson Cunningham '63, who played field hockey, basketball, and lacrosse at Agnes Irwin and was awarded the White Blazer as the outstanding athlete in her senior class.

The experience of playing athletics at AIS, Emily said, brought not only success but also great self-satisfaction. The opportunity to help today's athletes find that same feeling was highly motivating. But the real thrill, she added, was the way the project turned out.

“Just seeing that field — it’s totally different than when we were playing. I'm very, very proud of what they all did there,” Emily said.

Piper Rodgers cites an extra benefit of the campaign: With AIS no longer traveling off-campus to Radnor Memorial Field for practices or games, “my friends are able to come to home games. It feels really nice to have more spectators and feel the love shown for us.”

That excitement was evident on Nov. 7, when Agnes Irwin/EA Day packed spectators around both fields and the adjacent tennis courts. “The whole community being able to go from the soccer game to the field hockey game to tennis, all in one spot, was so nice,” Piper reflected.

Coach Lubbe pointed out, “Sports at Agnes Irwin play a big role in creating community, in building character, teaching respect, and reinforcing the school’s core values. Having two turf fields on campus opens the door for more participation in our field sports and more access to top quality facilities for students of all grade levels at AIS.”

Bravery and resilience are further qualities that student-athletes will learn in competition. “You're going to face adversity as an athlete, learn how to work together, to strategize and compete or overcome a loss,” she added.

But the Owls typically experience even more triumph and accomplishment.

“Every year, between 15% and 25% of the graduating class will be recruited college athletes,” Coach Lubbe noted. “So when the girls are playing at that high of a level, if we can match their ability, their skill, and their excellence with the facilities they deserve, we're positioning them to be more successful.”

Lucy Jones, a sophomore field hockey player, agreed. “I think being an athlete at Agnes Irwin really shows what Irwin’s girls are made of. I find it admirable to watch everybody hustle, everybody cheer each other on, everybody giving 110% effort, even in a practice drill,” Lucy said.

“It just shows the character of every Agnes Irwin girl, and that’s then reflected in the classroom–giving that effort, putting the extra work in, and helping others with projects or homework.”

“I’d say playing on these fields has created a deeper sense of pride in our school,” Gabby Bongiorno mused. “The energy on the soccer team has shifted, and it feels like we have something even more to play for; our school invested in us, let's live up to that legacy.”