Caleb S.

Winslow

Enterprise Story

Nov. 30, 2018

A new beginning for Fort Osage athletics

With the recent win over Battle High School the Fort Osage Indians Football team heads

to the Class 5 State Championship for the fourth time in the past 10 years and the first time only

playing on turf.

In the 53-year history of the Fort Osage School District, there was been one constant, the

grass football field. This is the first full season on the new turf field and in the new state of the

art district stadium. The stadium had some big influences on what would go across midfield. A

cursive style Indians is now inscribed across the field. 54 years later, the Indians have played a

full season on a turf field and the results at home were mediocre at best. Posting a home record

of four and three with two of those games were won by less than four points. The other two

home games were dominated by both sides of the ball for the Indians.

The new turf field has given the district more chances to host large scale events as well as

district track and field events. The high school and middle school marching bands have been able

practice on the field in the morning rather than the old dirt football practice field next to the

district food warehouse. The field is also being used for the boys’ and girls’ soccer teams to use

for games rather than the now closed down soccer stadium located on location of the old swamp.

The cost of the renovation of the stadium and the new turf field was 5 million dollars that was

funded by the passing of a $11.37 million bond that was voted on in November of 2016.
 “The new field has provided students with more space to participate in PE the band has

used it to practice and perform it is being used for both football and soccer and obviously the two

extra lanes on the track will work better for bigger meets giving the district more revenue,”

athletic director Ryan Schartz said.

The Boys’ soccer teams also made use of the new turf field as well. The Indians varsity

soccer team has been a dominate force with a winning record in past years and making the

playoffs. This year was a different story the Indians posted a home record of 5-7 and went 9-12

over all this season. Of the home games, they won this year they were by close margins of one

goal only. However, the home losses where a different story getting blown out by three plus

goals in all but three games this year. The Girls soccer teams will begin conditioning on the field

as well as in the renovated weight room this winter in preparation for their season this spring.

Having the new turf field will allow for many of the outdoor sports to get conditioning in

over the winter months. In years past the football and soccer have been forced to condition inside

due to poor field conditions. With the turf, the teams will be able to run outside and do their

workouts in the environment that they will be playing on. Especially the boy’s football team

guaranteed to play in the month of November.

Ty Baker is one of the few players on the Fort Osage Indians Football team that has

played a complete season on turf. Before moving to Fort Osage, he played middle school in the
Blue Springs School District. Who has one of the most state of the art athletics facilities in the

Kansas City area. Baker also got the chance to practice with the Staley Football team growing up

when his mother was a school administrator there. Before moving to the Fort Osage School

District at Fire Prairie Upper Elementary School Bakers’ freshman year of high school.

“Having a turf field will be an advantage going into the future since the rest of the

conference has turf fields and put us in contention with the rest of the conference this season,”

Senior Quarterback Ty Baker. “Advantages of having the turf are getting to be able to practice on

it year-round, and I don't have to step on rocks or run around in the dirt like last year”

Linebacker coach Joe Bedard has been with the Indians for the past six years and played

his collegiate carrier with the Bearcats of Northwest Missouri State University. So, he is used to

winning on turf and was ready to be able to finally get to coach on it. Over the summer the

Indians defense took a visit to the Bearcats to see about changing their defensive scheme when it

came to playing on a turf field versus the grass that had been iconic at Fort Osage.

“I have loved the turf from a practice perspective. We can practice on it in any weather

condition and still get something out of it. Plus, all different levels and types of football are able

to enjoy the turf,” said Joe Bedard, “I believe our style of play is the exact same as it has been. I

don’t think Fort Osage will ever change the ground and pound mindset”
 Besides the new turf field was a new eight lane airplane track that was being built during

the last track season. This meant that the seniors from last year where un able to practice or

compete at home. Ryan Schartz plans on inviting them back for the first track meet at the new

stadium, since they sacrificed a lot in order for the new stadium to be built. The increase of the

track size has head track coach JD Sneed excited to see what the district athletes will be able to

do with the new track and field areas being built into the district stadium.

“The new stadium will be able to support significantly more athletes.,” Sneed said. “The

increase from six lanes to eight lanes will provide additional training space for our 8th grade

athletes. The pole vault area is now located the infield area which allows the pole vault coach to

supervise and work with athletes in events other than the pole vault.”

Overall the change of scenery has had a positive outcome for the Indians football team.

Unfortunately, the boys’ soccer team has yet to see the same type of results as the football team.

Once the girls’ team gets to play on the turf, the results of the track and field team will also be

something to look for in the spring once their season begins.