High school athletics serve the purpose of promoting school spirit and establishing a tight-knit community among student-athletes, faculty, administrators, and alumni.

While seeing the student-athletes compete in sports they love is the foundation of this spirit, having beautifully updated athletic facilities certainly helps add to the atmosphere Bishop Loughlin H.S., Fort Greene, has installed new field turf on the schoolyard just outside the building.

The synthetic turf — installed by LandTek — provides a comfortable surface for athletic practices, physical education classes, and a hangout for students after school. “This is literally our front porch, so we saw this as a great opportunity to shine for the neighborhood, as well as our students and prospective students,” said Andy Leary, Bishop Loughlin’s vice president for advancement.

The process began when the concrete schoolyard began to crack. Several years ago, the school paid for repairs after the same thing happened, so when more cracks started popping up recently, administrators brainstormed a more permanent solution.

For years, head varsity boys’ lacrosse coach Nicholas Dilonardo suggested the school install turf. It was an expensive endeavor, that would only have been possible with the gracious support of donors. Luckily for the Lions, a generous donor emerged in the form of Brian C. Connolly (Class of ’73). A current member of the Bishop Loughlin board of directors, Connolly saw this as an investment in the long-term future of the school, as well as a way to show his gratitude for his memorable time in Fort Greene.

“Loughlin was a difference maker in my life,” said Connolly, proud that the field now bears his name: The Brian C. Connolly Field. “I will forever be grateful to our school and all that it represents.”

Additionally, Loughlin Governor Maureen Moss McInerney and Loughlin Foundation board member Pamela Sloan made significant financial contributions to help bring the vision to life. Both are graduates of the now-closed Bishop McDonnell Memorial H.S. The Loughlin Foundation also made a substantial grant to help reach the final financial goal.

The project broke ground in early July, and the turf was laid just before the start of the school year. The Lions soccer, lacrosse, and softball teams will hold practices on the field. The goal is for the turf also to become Bishop Loughlin’s home CHSAA softball field in the spring. Meanwhile, the track teams will still compete on the iconic Loughlin purple track that surrounds the turf field.

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Portable backstops, dugouts, lacrosse goals, and soccer goals will keep this multipurpose surface in constant use. That’s especially important here in the northeast, where the climate can dictate the practice schedule. The turf absorbs water very well, so the teams can still play in light to moderate rain.

“Loughlin is so excited about our new turf field!” said longtime athletic director Angela Proce. “Our kids are pumped to use the field. I’m thrilled that our athletic teams now have somewhere to go instead of going to different parks for practices.”

The student-athletes are just as excited — if not more excited — to get to work on the field. Surely, this turf will enhance the overall experiences of these athletes as they compete on the latest form of sports technology.

“After making it to back-to-back championships, I feel this is going to be our year with our beautiful new field,” said Isidora Fuentes, a senior pitcher and team captain on Bishop Loughlin’s varsity softball team. “Now our teachers, classmates, and faculty can get to see us play, which is
only going to bring our energy to the fullest.”

“With this field, excuses no longer exist,” said Rieheem Bailey, a senior midfielder and team captain on the Lions varsity lacrosse team. “What remains is growth, and ultimately we will become twice as efficient.”

The turf is more than just a field — it’s a means to enhance the student body’s formative high school experience by delivering high-quality educational and athletic opportunities for everyone connected with the Loughlin community.

Bishop Loughlin is celebrating its 174th anniversary, making this project a major splash right before a milestone year.

“We think that this is going to be a project that’s going to be larger than Loughlin,” Leary said. “This was an opportunity for us to make a bold statement as we look to generate enthusiasm for our 175th year.

“Catholic schools face plenty of challenges, but at the same time, we’re doing exciting things. We think this projects Loughlin’s strength and shows that we’re a school in growth mode.”

A group of lions is called a pride. For these Bishop Loughlin Lions, the new field turf is fittingly a tremendous source of pride as a new school year begins.