A season on hold
Ridgewood High School in New Jersey has called off its home football and soccer games for the upcoming fall season after a safety inspection revealed that the playing fields were compromised by flood damage.
The turf, saturated by floodwaters and coated with silt, has lost its shock‑absorbing qualities, failing the mandatory test that ensures player safety on synthetic surfaces.
Officials estimate that restoring the fields would require more than a million dollars, a cost that the district must weigh against other budget priorities.
While nearby schools have offered their facilities, the logistics of moving practices and games to alternate sites have proven challenging for the district’s schedule.
Dr. Mark Schwarz, superintendent of Ridgewood Public Schools, expressed the district’s disappointment, noting that the loss of home‑field experiences weighs heavily on the student‑athletes.
Thomas Bryan, a senior nose guard on the football team, said the players are determined to adapt, planning to shift their Friday night contests to other venues while they wait for a solution.
Sophomore Nico Schilt, a soccer player, voiced his sadness over the limited training opportunities, emphasizing how the ongoing flooding has curtailed his team’s practice sessions.
Max Abdrobo echoed the sentiment, pointing out that the saturated fields not only hinder competition but also restrict the athletes’ ability to train on their own turf.