CVHS Breaks Ground on $1.2 Million Turf Fields

On Monday, broke ground on the new $1.2 million turf field at the William R. Trussel Football Stadium. 

A couple dozen students attended the ceremony, which marked the end of a fast-paced fundraising effort to raise enough money for two new turf fields at the school. Construction workers are scheduled to begin work Tuesday morning. The fields will be finished in time for the first home game this fall. 

"We originally started with I think about $100 in the account, and we had to get to about $1.2 million and some change, as you can imagine," said Jimmy Sanabria, Centreville High's director of student activities. "So we really started this in August, September, and as of today we have reached our goals."

Sully District Supervisor Michael Frey, CVHS principal Michael Campbell, Kyle McDaniel (legislative aide to Springfield Supervisor Pat Herrity), parent Tom Healy, Richard Simmons of Money Mailer and Tom Culleiton of the Booster Club opened ground with special golden shovels. Sanabria spoke for a few minutes at the beginning of the ceremony, and recounted how each of the men had helped bring about the field.  

The Booster Club and the PTSA held a number of fundraisers throughout the year to raise money for the new fields, including a casino night, Christmas tree sale and the sale of bricks inscribed with donors' names. Money Mailer donated a significant amount of money as well. 

Fairfax County taxpayers also helped pay for the field. In May, the Board of Supervisors approved $275,000 for the school's turf field. Herrity and Frey advocated for the money. The funding was part of a total $1.5 million in grants set aside for turf fields at FCPS high schools. 

The football team will practice at nearby Braddock Park in the fall, as they wait for the field to be completed. Children at the —which raised a significant amount of money for the project—will also be able to practice at the school. Previously, the school needed to allow time between practices to let the grass grow back.  

"We'll end up with two beautiful fields," Sanabria said. "Not that we're bragging or anything, but that is pretty nice for all of us in the community and the little kids coming in."