Aberdeen High School has confirmed the relocation of multiple sporting events due to a permit-related delay of a turf-replacement project at Stewart Field, the home site for Bobcats football and girls soccer teams in the fall.
Aberdeen Athletic Director John Crabb confirmed on Tuesday that the Bobcats will face Hoquiam in the 117th Myrtle Street Rivalry game at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept, 2 at Olympic Stadium in Hoquiam.
The Bobcats had originally planned on opening the season with three consecutive home games, showing off it’s revamped turf field — as well as other improvements — but due to a miscommunication regarding a stormwater runoff permit, construction of the project was delayed for 15 days and eventually resumed on July 14.
Aberdeen’s Week 2 matchup against Harbor rival and 1A powerhouse Montesano will be played at Jack Rottle Field in Montesano at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 9.
Barring any further delays, Aberdeen officials are shooting for a home opener at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept, 16 against Centralia in a 2A Evergreen Conference game.
Aberdeen’s girls soccer team also had its season-opening rivalry game against Hoquiam affected by the delays, causing the game to be relocated to Olympic Stadium at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 6.
The Bobcats will then play three away games before a projected home opener on the new turf against Rochester at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 22.
Due to the delays, Aberdeen teams will also have to utilize alternative facilities when practices are scheduled to begin later this month.
The football team will practice at the practice field adjacent to Stewart Field beginning Aug. 17.
The girls soccer team will initially begin practice at Miller Junior High School when its practices get underway on Aug. 22 before temporarily moving to the Bishop Sports Complex.
Weight room upgrades nearing completion
According to Crabb, upgrades to the Aberdeen weight room are expected to be completed by the end of this week, with multiple new hi-tech workout machines being put in place.
“Half of it has arrived and is installed,” he said.
The Aberdeen athletic program was allocated over $150,000 of funding for weight-room renovations during a school board meeting in the spring and are currently implementing several specialized all-in-one machines in an effort to consolidate space in its 1,100 square foot facility at the north end of the Sam Benn Gymnasium.
The last time Aberdeen’s weight room received any renovations was in 2005 and, according to Aberdeen head coach Todd Bridge, the Bobcats have been using the same squat/bench racks since 1982.
