Belle Vernon’s “Beach” makes MaxPreps “amazing turf fields” top 10

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Friday, August 30, 2019 | 3:07 PM

MaxPreps captured birds-eye views of what it calls “10 amazing high school football turf fields” from around the country and a local venue made the list.

Belle Vernon’s James Weir Stadium, known for its gold-colored turf — they call it “The Beach” — is among a series of unique fields featured in a video.

Maxpreps is featuring 10 Amazing High School Turf Fields and this sparkling gem at Belle Vernon Area High School is one of them. #OnOurTurf #Top10 @MaxPreps pic.twitter.com/zRtAy47Pll

— AstroTurf (@AstroTurfUSA) August 29, 2019

The turn away from traditional green grass has caught on. Boise State may have started the trend years ago with its blue field. Regardless, high school fields are getting creative with designs.

Schools like Escalante in Tierra Amarilla, N.M. have red turf.

The Claremore (Okla.) Zebras have a zebra pattern in their end zones, while Alden (N.Y.), Harrison Central (Ohio) and Barrow (Ark.) can show off two-toned fields painted with their school colors.

One of the more eye-catching designs is Diamond Ranch Academy in Hurricane, Utah. The Diamondbacks feature a diamond pattern between the hash marks from end zone to end zone, and a snake head at midfield.

Belle Vernon is 20-2 at “The Weir” since the stadium put in the gold turf in 2015. That includes a 3-0 mark in the WPIAL playoffs.

The MaxPreps top 10 is:

Belle Vernon

Bolingbrock (Ill.)

Somerset (Ky.)

Escalante (Tierra Amarilla, N.M.)

Claremore (Okla.)

Alden (N.Y.)

Harrison Central (Cadiz, Ohio)

Cherokee (N.C.)

Barrow (Ark.)

Diamond Ranch Academy (Hurricane, Utah)

AstroTurf is well represented in this list of Amazing High School Turf Fields #OnOurTurf https://t.co/lvwJwtp3EV

— AstroTurf (@AstroTurfUSA) August 29, 2019

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Belle Vernon