TOBYHANNA TOWNSHIP -- New turf, new nets, and new goal posts are all ready to go at Pocono Mountain West High School.
The new multipurpose field was dedicated Thursday near Mount Pocono.
"We put a lot of time and energy into this field and I just think it's great for our kids, our community, so we are really excited about getting going,” said Brad Pensyl, Pocono Mountain West Athletic Director.
The field is part of a $3.4 million project for Pocono Mountain East and West schools.
It was paid for by proceeds from the sale of school buildings that were no longer needed within the district.
This is the first time soccer player Danielle Besser will play under home turf lights.
“I love it. I think it's amazing actually and I think it's really great that we get the opportunity to play on turf because it's a faster game and it's really good,” said Danielle Besser, Junior.
But this new field isn't the only one getting students into the school spirit.
Right next to it is another field that, for a long time, needed repairs, but is now refurbished.
While most of the athletic teams will play on the new field, this is where the football team will play every Saturday game. Now some of the students we spoke to tell us they are excited they finally have a place they can call theirs.
"It means very good pride. I feel like more people are going to come, I feel like more people are going to come and support because it's an easy convenience to come here and show west pride and it's new, it's improved,” said senior Carly Kasaba.
For a long time, Pocono Mountain West football players and cheerleaders were forced to have their home games at away schools.
Now their football field has been repaired and will be ready to be played on for the first official Panthers home game next Saturday.
“We haven't played a game here in 14 years so the football players are really excited about that, and you know, sometimes it was difficult to pack up and go down the hill for a game and I think it's long overdue,” said Pensyl.
On Friday, Pocono Mountain East will show off its new turf. The team formerly played on a grass field.
