CAZENOVIA — On Friday, Sept. 29, Cazenovia Central School District (CCSD) officially opened its newly completed Upper Turf Multi-Use Field at the Emory Avenue Complex with a girls varsity soccer game against Chittenango followed by a girls varsity field hockey game against Port Byron.
On the day of the opening games, CCSD Athletic Administrator Mike Byrnes described the addition of the multi-sport all-weather turf athletic facility as “simply tremendous,” noting that it had already been used for soccer, field hockey, football, and physical education.
“[I] estimate the fields have been used for about 10.5 hours per day every school day by students and student-athletes,” Byrnes said.
He added that the turf had also been used for some cross-country runs and off-season training and that the community-based youth football teams will start playing there on Sundays in October.
The upper field renovation is part of the district’s current capital project, which involves modifying the physical education, sports, and community facilities at the Emory Avenue Complex. The $10,713,319 project was approved by a Capital Project Referendum Vote in March 2022.
“Our two homecoming games for girls soccer and field hockey were a historic moment in school history,” said Byrnes. “It makes me so proud that our community’s support, [the] district’s leadership, and the school board’s courage allowed for such an investment right here at home. We now have what almost no other school in our section has, a field that is so versatile that it can practically do anything we need it to do, and we can play all our field sports on it as needed. The views at the new field area are stunning, and the camaraderie, pride, and unity felt during our homecoming games was inspiring.”
The renovation of the lower Buckley-Volo Stadium field area is still underway.
“I can only imagine how amazing things will be upon total completion later this school year,” Byrnes said. “All I can say is how lucky I feel to be a Cazenovia Laker!”
To learn more about CCSD athletics, visit cazenoviacsd.com/athletics.
