Two teams get new turf
High school football begins
On Monday, all four Lodi area high school football teams officially kicked off their season.
Lodi, along with Tokay, Galt and Liberty Ranch, which is Galt’s second high school, started conditioning week at their respective campuses.
Monday’s practices were special for Tokay and Liberty Ranch. The two programs were able to hold practices at their respective on-campus stadiums. One will be able to host games this season, but the other won’t.
A new era began Monday for the Tokay and Liberty Ranch football programs.
The Tigers and Hawks held practices at their respective, brand new on-campus stadiums for the first time ever. Tokay and Liberty Ranch, along with Lodi and Galt, were just four of more than 150 high schools in the Sac-Joaquin Section that officially started football practices with conditioning week.
Earlier this year, Tokay had the grass field at Steve Hubbard Field torn out. Installed is the all-turf field that includes granulated cork, which, since 2007, has been used at various athletic fields in the United States in all-turf. The four stadium lights — two on the west and east sides — have also been installed and are fully functioning.
“It was kind of a thrill,” said Tokay football coach Michael Holst. “What was most important part for us is the feel, a level playing surface. It’s pretty awesome.”
Tokay football fans expecting to catch the Tigers firstever on-campus game this season may have to wait until possibly toward the end of this season, if not the 2019 season.
According to Holst, the allweather track is expected to be installed in September. On the home side of the stadium, which is now the west side, the poles are in place to build the stands, which are expected to be installed after the all-weather track and field is in place.
“I don’t know when they
are going to be done,” Holst said. “We just have to remind ourselves lines are painted and we have a flat surface that makes things a lot easier.”
Tokay opens its season on Friday, Aug. 17, when it host Patterson in a non-league game. But that game will be played at the Grape Bowl.
Since Tokay opened its doors in the early 1970s, it has always played its varsity and junior varsity football home games at the Grape Bowl. Since the early 2000s, Tokay freshmen football teams had played some home games at Steve Hubbard Field.
Holst said there’s a slight chance that the stadium could be completed in time for Tokay to play its final home game of the season. That would be Friday, Oct. 19, when Tokay entertains defending Tri-City Athletic League champion St. Mary’s. The Tigers close out the regular season the following week against rival Lodi. The Flames, who play all of their home games at the Grape Bowl, are the home team for this year’s meeting.
If Tokay plays its home finale against St. Mary’s at its on-campus stadium, that would be special for the seniors on this year’s team, Holst pointed out.
“It’s disappointing for the seniors that they could (play all of their home games on campus),” Holst said. “Playing at Grape Bowl is not a bad option for us. It’s nothing different than we have been doing.”
At this time, Tokay is planning to open its on-campus stadium this winter. That’s when the Tokay boys and girls soccer teams will play all of their home games.
“We’re planning on being ready to go for soccer in the winter,” Holst said.
Liberty Ranch
Since Galt’s second high school opened its doors in 2009, the Hawks’ varsity and junior varsity football teams have practiced on campus. But that was on a grass field.
On Monday, Hawks Stadium came to life. That’s when the Liberty Ranch football teams converged onto the new turf to start conditioning week. The stadium is complete with the all-turf field, home stands on the west side and visitor’s stands on the east side, all-weather track and field and six stadium lights — three on each side.
“I think that everyone is excited; the players, coaches, administration, staff,” said Liberty Ranch football coach Anthony Linebaugh, who is also the school’s athletic director. “I think the community is excited.”
The 26 players on the Liberty Ranch varsity football team worked in unison on the all-turf field in the first hour of Monday’s practice.
“We had some enthusiasm from these young men,” Linebaugh said. “We’ve set some goals (this season), and we’re working hard. This is day one ... we’re just looking at every day as a step forward of us getting ready for our scrimmage and Johnson.”
When Liberty Ranch kicks off its season on Friday, Aug. 17, hosting Johnson of Sacramento, the Hawks will do so at their own stadium. The Hawks will play one more non-league home game against Bear River of Grass Valley on Friday, Sept. 7. Liberty Ranch has the luxury of playing three of its five Sierra Valley Conference games at its on-campus stadium against Bradshaw Christian of Elk Grove, Union Mine and rival Galt.
On Friday, the Liberty Ranch Jr. Hawks’ youth football program practiced at the stadium. Linebaugh would like to see the school’s stadium used for other events.
“We really want this to be a part of a gathering for the community,” Linebaugh said. “Football, soccer, track (and field). It could be a unified event with Special Olympics. We want this to be a hub, and we’re excited to be a part of it.”