Thomas Worthington High School

June 25, 2011
Photo credit: twhsturf.org

The Thomas Worthington Cards are really excited about the new turf field that's being installed at the High School.  In fact, they have a dedicated website to keep everyone updated on the progress.  Click HERE to see it.

The Motz Group is busy constructing the base and surface of a brand new 95,000 sq ft field that will be used for many sports and activities including football, soccer and lacrosse.  Thomas Worthington High School athletes and community members alike are looking forward to using the field come fall.

The new field will be completed by mid August - just in time for the Cards to practice for the upcoming football season.

 SportGrass®

SportGrass® (SG®) is manufactured with premium monofilament fibers that provide the look and feel of perfectly manicured natural grass.  In addition to its good looks, the turf has exceptional playability. The resilient and split resistant fibers create a superior, long lasting surface that provides consistent footing and predictable ball / turf interaction.

Click HERE to see pictures, including an image of what the center logo will look like.

If you have any questions on the SportGrass system or any of The Motz Group's proven systems contact Zach Burns at 513.533.6452 or info@themotzgroup.com

Athens High School / Triumph after Tragedy

Thursday September 16, 2010.  It was the first tornado to hit The Plains, Ohio since 1937.  

Violent Storm

The Athens High School girls soccer team was half way through a tied game versus Alexander High School of Albany Ohio when the game was put on a weather delay due to lightning.  High winds and tornado sirens signaled a more serious threat - the team and the fans sought shelter in the football locker room.  

Destruction

The Press Box was blown off the bleachers at AHS a
tornado blew through The Plains last fall.
Photo Credit: Dustin Franz

Just as the tornado sirens began screaming the electricity went out. Two HVAC units were torn from the rooftop of the High School. Visitor side bleachers were ripped from the ground and thrown into the track. The press box on the field was destroyed.  The roof of the concession stand ripped off. Trees were down, fences demolished, scoreboard broken in half - debris everywhere.  Basil Rutter Field was covered in broken glass, splintered wood and other unidentifiable materials. In a word, destroyed.  Amazingly, no one was seriously injured.

• Click HERE to read an incredible front line account from sports editor Kevin Wiseman who was at AHS to cover the soccer game.
• Click HERE to see compiled images
• Click HERE to see the National Weather Service Storm Survey

Rebuilding

Almost immediately students, staff and community members began piecing the destruction back together. Volunteers literally began picking up the pieces one by one. Support groups were formed and planning committees began plotting their comeback.  Fund raising was in full effect - one AHS alumnus donated $300,000 to his alma matter to rebuild the football field and surrounding areas.  The stadium has been named Scott Riggs and Family Stadium in his honor.  A total renovation for Athens High School including new lights, scoreboard, field, track, bleachers, concession stand, restrooms, press box, field house, walls and sidewalks.  

After hearing solid references and strong reviews of The Motz Group (Cincinnati Ohio) an athletic field construction company that designs and installs high performance synthetic turf fields for many high schools, Principal Mike Meek and Athletic Director Chuck Robinson secured them for the project.  The Motz Group arrived ready to work at the start of April but due to the incessant rain the project was delayed.   As soon as the weather broke the team got to work. "Each layer laid on the field helped the community feel like things were coming back together - stronger and better than ever" said Chad Lavender, Project Superintendent for The Motz Group.  "We're here for AHS and the people of The Plains. We'll be here for years to come."

• Click HERE (fast forward to 23:45) to see a report on the renovation. 
• Click HERE to see a 5 video compilation on You Tube.

The system of choice for the newly renovated Rutter Field was The Motz Group's 24/7® turf system. 24/7 provides all-weather toughness that stands up to repeated pounding while staying strong, clean and aesthetically pleasing. 

"There's not a better multi-use synthetic sports field turf system than 24/7 and there's not a better team to work with than The Motz Group" adds Lavender.

Game On

The new field is almost complete and will be ready for play when The Athens High School Bulldogs take the field on August 13th in a scrimmage against Morgan High School.  It will be exciting for sure!  

The Motz Group prides itself on providing quality products and personal service, backed by a 34-year history of building trust.  For more information about The Motz Group and 24/7® turf please contact Zach Burns at 513.533.6452 or info@themotzgroup.com

Summit Country Day School / Baseball Turf

Picture Perfect Field First Of Its Kind

June 6, 2011 By Sarah Menefee, CSJ writer

Original article can be found HERE

It’s a whole new ballgame now for The Summit Country Day School, located in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The school just finished a brand new, first of its kind in the world, baseball field for its student athletes.

“The Motz Group developed our baseball field using the Triple Play HP Synthetic Turf Baseball System this year,” said The Summit Country Day School’s Communications Director Nancy Berlier. “Construction took place over the winter, and the field was ready to play on by April.”

The Triple Play HP Synthetic Turf Baseball System offers a completely new environment for players. The turf, specifically made for baseball, offers a “premium, dual-fiber turf, Envirofill acrylic coated sand infill and a shock-absorbing underpad.”

The Summit Country Day School Head Baseball Coach, Triffon Callos, saw the need for an updated infield, and he went to work to help bring about renovation.

“I brought it up to a few stakeholders that we should look into the return of investment going to turf because it’s going to save us in many ways, and we got going with the project with Zach Burns of The Motz Group. We made it work,” said Callos.

This turf, providing material different than traditional rubber, gives many benefits to players.

“Triffon Callos loves it,” said Burns. “He loves the play characteristics, and the consistent ball bounce and smooth ball roll. The update also allows the school to use the field for potential revenue source for rental. It just gives the school so much more utility and space, and opens up a whole new classroom.”

Callos agrees that the new field offers players an optimal playing environment. In addition to the play characteristics, the turf allows for less rainouts and less maintenance.

“Even with the rain this spring, we were able to play more games and practice with this field,” said Callos. “With this weather we had (rain), many teams didn’t get out until their first scrimmage. We had three-four weeks of practice time on our infield that no one else in the city did.”

The new field has brought great publicity to The Summit Country Day School and The Motz Group.

“Both our kids and opposition love playing on it. It’s brought positive attention to our school and our program. We have big name schools in Cincinnati (DI) who contacted us. They know we have a field, and people want to play on a facility like that. It really markets the program,” said Callos.

And The Motz Group has experienced positive feedback as well.

“We have quite a lot of other schools interested in this type of field,” said Burns. “We are in discussion with them now. The system allows for consistent, durable, high performance play.”

The cost for the infield system ranges from $200,000 to $250,000. Prices for an entire field change from project to project. In terms of funding for projects like these at The Summit Country Day School, Berlier says donors associated with the school help make the renovations possible.

“Donors help for a lot of the projects. We have a remarkably generous group of parents devoted to the school and come through with what we need,” said Berlier.

In addition to this “first of its kind” baseball field, The Summit Country Day School showcases three gymnasiums, a comprehensive weight room and spacious outdoor athletic venues.

“It’s special that we have three outdoor fields right by school. A lot of Catholic High Schools are landlocked because they don’t have the kind of space we have,” said Berlier. “We are also replacing five tennis courts this summer to improve drainage and slopes for better runoffs.”

With so much activity surrounding The Summit Country Day School, the baseball field is an example of state-of the-art facilities and a state-of-the-art philosophy throughout the school.

Said Callos: “The Summit is such a special place. It’s a leader in technology in many ways on the academic side of things. It’s such a complete school, and I think this shows that on the athletic side as well. We have the best of both worlds. One day these kids will look back and see how lucky they were to play on an infield like the one we have.”

Photo courtesy of The Motz Group

For more information contact Zach Burns at 513.533.6452

Rain Rain Go Away

The month of April 2011brought record amounts of rain to the tri-state area.  Baseball teams everywhere were canceling because field conditions were saturated.

As described in the WLWT News 5 piece that posted on April 27th  many area high school fields had a lot of trouble getting in their spring baseball schedule.  With so much rain there’s been record number of rainouts – many teams having trouble getting in their regularly scheduled games.

Not so for Summit Country Day School or New Richmond High School who both installed Triple Play™Synthetic Turf prior to this rainy season.

Summit was able to play 17 home games in the month of April!  Without Triple Play turf, Varsity Coach Triffon Callos thinks they might have been able to play only two, possibly three.

Summit Country Day School's brand new Triple Play™ Turf.

If you are interested in visiting a Triple Play field or learning more about turf for your baseball or softball fields contact Zach Burns at 513.533.6452 or info@themotzgroup.com.

Two Motz Group teams advance to State Finals!

Perrysburg and Lakota East are matching up in the Ohio Division I baseball state title tomorrow at 10am.  Both schools have fought hard to get where they are, both schools are fighting for their first state victory and both teams play their fall sports on a Motz Group field!

The Lakota East baseball team is on the brink of accomplishing what no other Thunderhawk team has ever done.  After Thursday's 7-2 victory over Grove City in the state semi-finals, the Hawks have an opportunity to win the school's first state team title since Lakota split into East and West in 1997.

Similarly, Perrysburg's Yellow Jackets defeated Willoughby South 4-3 and have advanced to the championship game for their first time.  The Yellow Jackets lost in the state semifinals in 2003, their only other appearance at state.

2011 OHSAA Boys Baseball Division I State Tournament: 
Lakota East  vs. Perrysburg
Huntington Park, Columbus
Saturday June 4th at 10am.

Good Luck Gentlemen!

For more information on Triple Play™ or 24/7® Turf Fields contact:
Zach Burns, Director of Sales and Marketing
513-533-6452 or info@themotzgroup.com

St. Ursula breaks ground on turf field

Contributed By: Jill Cahill | St. Ursula Academy

Cincinnati, Ohio, April 29, 2011 – St. Ursula Academy proudly broke ground Wednesday, April 27 on its new synthetic turf field that will replace the grass field on the northwest side of SUA’s campus in East Walnut Hills. Rain couldn’t dampen the spirits as student athletes, donors, school administrators, parents, and supporters came together to launch the turf construction project.

Several key donors and project leaders each took a shovel in the ceremonial groundbreaking that was moved indoors due to the poor weather conditions.

Among those participating were donors Bill Keating, Sr., Mike Keating, Amy and George Joseph, Lisa Grote and John Zerbe, Board of Trustees Chair May Kay Hauser, SUA President Judith A. Wimberg, Trustee and Project Manager Tom Neyer and Joe Motz and Zach Burns of The Motz Group, who will be constructing the field.

The turf field surface will replace the current grass field that is home to SUA's nationally ranked soccer team, state championship Field Hockey Team the Lacrosse team and St. Ursula athletic events.

The new turf will provide a state-of-the-art surface for many purposes. It will be all-purpose, all-weather, safe, durable and affordable.

The new field's rapid drainage and durable soft carpet provide a safe, consistent surface, ready most any time, most any use for practices, games, physical education classes, other school and community events. 

Photo: St. Ursula Academy Turf Field Groundbreaking 2011 Shown L-R: Joe Motz of the Motz Group, Trustee and Project Manager Tom Neyer, Zach Burns of the Motz Group, Lead donors and parents Amy and George Joseph, SUA President Judy Wimberg ’58, SUA Board of Trustees Chair May Kay Pastura Hauser ’68, donors Mike Keating and Bill Keating, Sr. representing the Clement and Ann Buenger Foundation, and major donors and past parents John Zerbe and Lisa Grote.

“We have long dreamed of being able to provide a better field for our students and athletes and here we are today celebrating the accomplishment of that dream,” said SUA President Judy Wimberg.

SUA's senior class co-president and state championship field hockey team member Meghan Winter talked at the event and thanked the donors and supporters for making this all possible.  “Not just the athletes, but all the students will be forever grateful for your support of this field improvement that will allow for so many more school related activities to happen by just walking out the doors of Keller Center and or the Gymnasium/Convocation Center,” said Miss Winter.

Funds to pay for the field conversion to turf were raised through a targeted campaign called “Team up for Turf”. The new field will be complete this summer and will be called Buenger Field at Schottzie Stadium.

To learn more about St. Ursula Academy and its athletic programming, please visit www.saintursula.org.

St. Ursula Academy is a Catholic, college-preparatory, secondary school for young women.

St. Ursula is a nurturing Catholic educational community that unleashes the potential of each student to become a women of faith, integrity and courage. In 2002 the academy was recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a Blue Ribbon School.


The campus, located at 1339 E. McMillan Street in East Walnut Hills has been the home of St. Ursula Academy and Convent since 1910.


The Motz Group is an athletic field construction company that designs and installs world class synthetic & natural turf playing systems all over the globe.  The Motz Group specializes in professional, collegiate and high school athletics as well as parks and recreation. 


The Motz Group will be installing the 24/7® synthetic turf system at St. Ursula Academy.  24/7 provides long term performance under high use conditions in all weather conditions.  To learn more contact Zach Burns at 513.533.6452 or info@themotzgroup.com.

Ohio College Football Senior Bowl II

The Motz Group is proud to sponsor the 2011 Ohio Army National Guard Senior Bowl II. The North Team and the South Team will take the field Saturday April 23rd at 5pm in the Columbus Crew Stadium.

The Ohio Army National Guard Senior Bowl was created to showcase some of the best college football players within the State of Ohio. The Senior Bowl features 90 of the top college football players from the NCAA I-A, II, III and NAIA.

Thousands of passionate fans are expected to fill Crew Stadium for this year’s first Ohio Army National Guard Senior Bowl. Last year, the North Team defeated the South by a touchdown, in what was an exciting defensive battle.

GameDay Management announced that Franklin County Children Services will serve as the event charity. Foster children, under the care of FCCS and other local agencies, will have the opportunity to attend the Senior Bowl free of charge. Senior Bowl participants and coaches will provide a free football clinic, under the direction of FCCS, prior to the game.

Tickets are now on sale at the Crew Stadium Box Office, all central Ohio Ticketmaster retail locations, via Ticketmaster phone at 1-800-745-3000. Fans can also purchase tickets online at www.TicketMaster.com. All tickets are general admission and are $10.00 presale and $12.00 the day of the game. Children under 2-years of age are free.

Results / Click HERE

2011 Search for the Real Field of Dreams™

The Synthetic Turf Council (STC) is holding its annual Search for the Real Field of Dreams™contest, and The Motz Group wants its partner fields to be rewarded. This contest aims to discover why your synthetic turf field, and the story behind the synthetic turf field, is the best in America. 

The STC recognizes the power that synthetic turf has to transform the lives of America's youth and enhance public wellness. The Search for the Real Field of Dreams is a national contest open to schools (K-12 and college), parks, businesses and public spaces in the United States and Canada that have the most compelling stories about the impact of their synthetic turf field or installation.  

Since the contest started in 2009, The Motz Group's 24/7® synthetic turf system has seen many national finalists.  All of these schools received national recognition on the STC  website, as well as The Motz Group's site, for their compelling stories about their synthetic turf field. Read their stories...

2010 National Finalist

Tri-Valley High School

2009 National Finalists

Oak Hills High School

Walton-Verona High School

Wyoming High School

Zanesville High School 

The Motz Group takes great pride in the accomplishments and unique stories of our partner schools.  We hope that you will consider telling the story behind your synthetic turf field.

Ready to submit your entry?  Please complete the online form or download an entry form to participate.  The deadline is June 15, 2011 and the winners will be announced September 15, 2011.  

Founded in 2003, the Synthetic Turf Council is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving as a resource for trustworthy information about each synthetic turf field. The Motz Group is proud to be an active member in the STC where we are recognized as a synthetic turf field Certified System Builder. Our involvement is not just limited to membership.  Our President, Joe Motz, has served two terms as  Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Best of luck! We hope your TMG synthetic turf field wins!

Please feel free to contact us at 513-533-6452 or info@themotzgroup.com with any questions.

Opening Day on Triple Play

Summit at bat during their home opener on Triple Play Turf

Just as the Cincinnati Reds won opening day on a Motz Group turf field, so did Summit Country Day.  The Men's varsity team beat New Miami 15-5 on the first game of their season, on their brand new Triple Play™HP synthetic turf system.

The afternoon started with a dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony led by Head of School, Rich Wilson.  The ceremony concluded with Cincinnati Reds owner Bob Castellini throwing the inaugural first pitch!

Just one day earlier Cincinnati experienced quite a bit of rain.  Enough rain that would have rained out the game if it weren't for their new synthetic turf field.

Triffon Callos, Summit's head baseball coach, remembers all too well what rain outs can do to a season.  Just last year, Summit was scheduled to play a playoff game on their home field.  Unfortunately field conditions were too wet and muddy and they lost the home field advantage - and they lost the playoff game.   


That certainly will not be the case this year.  Over the winter months The Motz Group installed a new Triple Play HP turf system for the Silver Knights.   Gone are the muddy infields, gone are the worries of weather conditions - here to stay is clean, high performance turf.  


Triple Play™ Synthetic Turf Baseball System
The Triple Play brand is the newest addition to The Motz Group's lineup of quality synthetic turf systems.  Conceived specifically for baseball, Triple Play's durable, all-weather surface means less rainouts, more games throughout the year and greatly reduced maintenance costs.  The system is available in two styles tailored to meet your budget and performance requirements. 


Triple Play is a value engineered product and has widespread appeal across all levels of baseball.  It's manufactured using the highest quality, wear resistant pile fiber available and infilled with crumb rubber and sand.  It's designed for extended play and minimal maintenance.  


Triple Play HP, the same system installed at Summit, is a high performance model and includes a premium, dual-fiber turf, Envirofill® acrylic coated sand infill and a shock-absorbing underpad.  The system delivers MVP performance in the areas that are key to field playability: natural, consistent ball bounce, smooth and straight ball roll and a fast, firm and sure-footed surface.  Triple Play HP delivers the superior field characteristics expected by those competing at the highest levels of the game. 


For photos from the event, please click HERE

Video: Bob Castellini throwing the first pitch, please click HERE
Video: Summit Silver Knights in action, please click HERE
Video: Ribbon cutting by Head of School, Rich Wilson, please click HERE


For more information on synthetic turf for your sporting field, contact Zach Burns at 513.533.6452 or info@themotzgroup.com

Groundbreaking at University of Dayton

Board of Trustees approves renovations of Stuart Field, turfing to begin this month. Groundbreaking on Stuart Field is scheduled to begin in early April, according to Mark Hoying, University of Dayton assistant director for intramurals and sport clubs.

The Board of Trustees passed plans for the project earlier in March, said Teri Rizvi, associate vice president for communications.

The field, located between Virginia W. Kettering Hall and the RecPlex, will be equipped with Twenty Four Seven® brand synthetic turf. The Motz Group, a Cincinnati-based firm, will oversee the turf installation.

"Friday nights, next fall, we're playing lacrosse, we're playing soccer, we're playing rugby out on that field," Hoying said.

The new field will feature permanent lines for four recreation league soccer and flag football fields, along with two softball fields, Hoying said. Temporary lines will be placed for ultimate Frisbee, club soccer, recreation, and club field hockey and rugby.

"If you wanted to come out and play intramural football or a rec pick-up game with [the] people on your floor, the lines are down," Hoying said. "It eliminates the 'Hey, pile up your sweatshirt over there and pile your shoes over there, and we'll have a field.'"

Hoying said expected lifespan of the field is about 10 years, depending on frequency of use and environmental factors such as damage from the sun. The field will be surrounded by an asphalt walkway and fence, and a portion of the land will remain undeveloped for a "phase two" project, which could possibly include bathrooms.

In Nov. 2010, Flyer News reported that Campus Recreation records show approximately 2,600 students each year play nearly 1,500 intramural games each semester in Campus Recreation's outdoor programming.

Zach Burns, sales and marketing director for The Motz Group, said the company is thrilled to be working with the university on the project. He said the project will probably be the single largest installation for the company this year in terms of square footage.

Burns said the Motz Group has partnered with the university on other projects, including Baujan Field. The company also worked on the field at Welcome Stadium, home of the Dayton Flyers football program, according to Burns.

Hoying said he expects to see an increase in the number of students playing intramural sports on the new field, much like when numbers of students utilizing indoor campus recreation activities increased with the opening of the RecPlex.

According to Hoying, Campus Recreation plans to be able to schedule about 28 games a day on the field, but said the number could run higher for club sports tournaments.

The field is expected to be finished by the beginning of the 2011-2012 academic year, he said.

"We've told them it's got to be done when [students] come back," Hoying said. "I think everyone's hope is you don't see a bulldozer, a carpet machine, we're not putting lines in; it's there, it's shiny, it's done, it's 'Welcome to UD.'"

Original article from University of Dayton’s Student Newspaper – www.flyernews.com  Article written by staff writer, Will Garbe.

Emerging Recreation Market

It’s becoming increasingly apparent that recreation facilities are noticing the value of installing synthetic turf.  Blue Ash Recreation Center, Anderson Township Park District’s Riverside Park, Wyoming Recreation Center are just a few of the many recreation / multi use fields that The Motz Group has recently installed.  “Our new All Weather Field facility at Riverside Park has enabled the ATPD to continue our mission of providing quality fields for our residents” says Ken Kushner, executive director of Anderson Township Park District.  Among other assets, synthetic turf allows recreation facilities to maximize rental dollars since weather related field conditions are no longer a factor.

24/7®

Twenty-Four/Seven® is the most popular and durable, all-weather, all-purpose turf system that The Motz Group installs. Made with the highest quality slit film yarn available, 24/7 delivers a winning combination of affordability and superior wear-ability.  You won’t find a better multi-use synthetic sports field turf system than 24/7, or a better team to deliver it than The Motz Group.

The Motz Group 

The Motz Group designs and installs world-class, high performance synthetic and natural sports field systems.  They provide quality products and personal service, backed by a 34-year history of building trust.

For more information on synthetic turf, contact Zach Burns at 513.533.6452 or info@themotzgroup.com

Reds owner Castellini to throw first pitch at new Summit ball field

Cincinnati Reds Owner Bob Castellini will throw out the first pitch Tuesday at The Summit Country Day School’s first home game of the season. The occasion marks the first game played on The Summit’s new high-performance artificial turf. Mr. Castellini is one of the donors who made the new field possible

The Motz Group of Newtown installed the Triple Play™ HP synthetic turf baseball system this year, making the field a first-of-its kind model for baseball fields. The entire infield is covered with this improved high-performance artificial grass and advanced underlayment system. Among the benefits are a truer bounce of the ball and speeds close to the experience of a high performance natural turf field, cooler surface temperatures, and elimination of rain-outs due to poor field conditions.

The baseball field dedication will begin at 4:15 p.m. Tuesday, April 5. Head of School Rich Wilson, School Chaplain Rev. Phil Seher, Director of Athletics Greg Dennis and Upper School Director Dr. Pat White will join Varsity Baseball Head Coach Triffon Callos for remarks, a ribbon cutting and the first-pitch. Afterward, The Summit will host New Miami for the first home game of the season.

The baseball field is located at The Summit’s Athletic Complex, 5580 Ehrling Rd., accessible from the Interstate 71 Red Bank Road exit.

Article written by Nick Dudukovich of The Community Press

For more information on synthetic turf contact Zach Burns at The Motz Group / 513.533.6452 /info@themotzgroup.com

Great American's Turf is Ready for Opening Day!

Great American Ball Park just days before Opening Day 2011.

In just three short days Great American Ball Park will be alive with fans cheering on The Cincinnati Reds when they take the field against The Milwaukee Brewers. The seats are ready, the concessions are ready, the players are ready and the turf is ready...


The turf system at Great American Ball Park was developed and installed by Cincinnati's Motz Group.  It's made up of HPG® (High Performance Gravity) Natural Turf and surfaced with TS-II® (Synthetic Stabalized Turf).  

HPG
HPG® is the acronym for our High Performance Gravity custom-designed natural turf field systems. Each field is specifically engineered to fit your performance standards, projected usage patterns, local environmental conditions and budget.


HPG® Advantages

• Meets your project-specific objectives and requirements
• Custom designed and engineered to fit your budget and site conditions
• Maximizes owner/contractor interaction to deliver on-target project results

TS-II

TS-II® is a patented combination of natural grass growing in a unique stabilizing mat. The combination produces a system that delivers the manageability, playability and flexibility demanded by today’s world-class venues.

TSII® Advantages

• 100% Natural grass playing surface meets all governing body regulations
• Dramatically increased wear tolerance compared to conventional grass
• Horizontal stability, even on pure sand rootzones
• Decreased devoting, shearing and displacement damage
• Meets the aesthetic and athletic demands of today’s sport field market
• Provides the flexibility to rapidly replace logos and change out worn areas
• Immediate playability upon installation or rotation

Go Reds!!  

For more information on HPG or TS-II or other natural or synthetic turf systems contact Zach Burns, Sales and Marketing Director of The Motz Group at 513.533.6452 or info@themotzgroup.com.