RED OAK HAWKS FEEDING OFF SUCCESS WITH MULTI-PURPOSE FIELDS ON CAMPUS
Winning breeds success, and that’s evident at Red Oak High School, where Hawks second-year head football coach Chris Ross has instilled a new attitude. “Before you can be a champion, you must learn to work like one” is a motto Ross embraces. The Hawks are 20-4 in the past two seasons under Ross and were outright district champions this year for the first time since 1982. Red Oak High School will have a new top-tier athletic facility in which to build on their success. By Spring of 2020, Red Oak will receive two new Matrix® synthetic turf multi-purpose practice fields with Helix® technology, built, manufactured, and installed by Austin-based Hellas Construction®.
“Victories are earned through your hard work, dedication, effort, and focus,” is yet another motto that is posted in the Red Oak locker room. Ross will be the first to tell you, “Our goal is to build a program where social responsibility, academic integrity, and competitive excellence are the standard for all.” The Hawks will have two practice fields side by side on campus for all students to enjoy including the Red Oak band, cheerleaders, dance teams, ROTC, and student-athletes.
The patent-pending Helix feature of the Matrix turf system consists of shape memory technology added during the manufacturing process, allowing each fiber to return to its original position while securing the turf’s infill. The curled monofilament fibers on Red Oak’s new Matrix turf will not only give the Hawks an aesthetically pleasing playing surface, but will offer a superior level of resiliency, stability, and durability.
Safety is a priority at Red Oak ISD. Both fields will incorporate REALFILL™ SBR infill and patented pea gravel ballast layer for better foot stability and drainage. The fields will be installed on top of a paved-in-place elastic layer Cushdrain® pad providing superior shock absorption upon impact. Cushdrain also aids in rapid drainage reducing downtime caused by heavy rain.
“There’s a renewed commitment to Hawks Athletics in general here at Red Oak ISD,” says Ross. The goal is winning a state football championship, but to be playing beyond the Thanksgiving holidays is a great measuring stick for how far the Hawks have come the past couple of seasons. With exceptional new athletic facilities, the Hawks are positioned for continued success.
Matrix Turf fibers are manufactured at Hellas Fibers in Alabama and are tufted into a triple-layered, dimensionally stable backing at Hellas Textiles in Georgia. The fibers have a natural look and feel, providing a soft yet strong surface with a long lifespan. The Matrix with Helix technology installed at the Red Oak Hawks’ practice field is the same turf system used by the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans. Hellas is The Official Turf Provider of the Dallas Cowboys and their practice facility at The Star in Frisco. Hellas is the Preferred Turf Provider of the Houston Texans and the Houston Methodist Training Center for the Texans.
Hellas Construction, Inc. headquartered in Austin, TX, is the largest vertically-integrated sports construction contractor in the United States, specializing in the general construction of sports facilities and sports surfaces. Hellas champions innovative artificial turf manufacturing, base construction, field, track and tennis planning, along with installation and maintenance. Hellas products are protected by one or more of the following patents: 6,800,339; 7,838,096; 7,249,913; 7,364,634. hellasconstruction.com
Red Oak ISD is located in Ellis County and serves the communities of Pecan Hill and Red Oak, along with portions of Glenn Heights, Oak Leaf, Ovilla, and Waxahachie. Red Oak ISD has 5 elementary schools, plus a junior high and high school. In 2010, the school district was rated “Recognized” by the Texas Education Agency. redoakisd.org
Dallas Cowboys headquartered at The Star in Frisco, TX, part of the NFL's NFC East Division. dallascowboys.com
Houston Texans headquartered in Houston, TX at NRG Stadium, part of the NFL's AFC South Division. houstontexans.com
