By Brittany Bowyer
Mail

SCOTTSDALE — A handful of Notre Dame Prep athletes will notice a big change to their playing surface when they return to school this fall.

Thanks to a grant from the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority, the Saints were able to upgrade their aging turf at Bemis Field to new, state-of-the-art playing surface.

“Notre Dame Preparatory High School was awarded the $250,000 grant in the fiscal year 2026 grant cycle,” a spokesperson for the AZSTA stated in an e-mail. “The request met AZSTA’s Youth and Amateur Sports grant criteria and was recommended by the Youth and Amateur Sports committee. The grant was approved by the AZSTA Board in June 2025, along with the other recipients.”

NDP is pleased with the upgrade.

“We are grateful for their support in helping us invest in the future of Notre Dame Prep,” the school posted on Facebook June 12.

Since beginning in 2001, the AZSTA has awarded nearly $40 million to fund more than 700 projects across Maricopa County. According to the AZSTA website, one of the main goals of the grant is “to participate in and encourage partnerships that benefit youth and amateur sports and promote physical activity.”

Construction on the field began in May and wrapped up at the end of June. The new playing surface will be used by football, flag football, soccer and lacrosse.

Turf fields generally have a lifespan of about 10 years before needing to be replaced to avoid safety issues.

Saints Head Football Coach George Prelock said the school was due for field rennovations, as the turf had been installed about decade ago. He says theoretically, the new turf should help reduce the overall number of injuries.

“Football is a contact sport,” Prelock said. “You can’t guarantee the fact that kids aren’t gonna get hurt or anything, but when it comes down to it, if you’re doing everything like keeping up with the fields like we do ... that’s what really matters.”

Since Notre Dame Prep first got turf installed, the cost of the project has become slightly more affordable for programs. However, had Notre Dame Prep not received the grant, they would be looking at footing a bill anywhere between $600,000 to $1 million for the necessary improvements.

“Anytime you get something new, it’s exciting,” Prelock said.

The installation of the new turf will help to elevate what’s already viewed as one of Arizona’s top high school football venues. It also helps attract players to come to Notre Dame Prep to be student-athletes.

“It really is gorgeous,” Prelock said about the stadium and the facilities. “We’re very blessed.”

Last year, the Saints’ football program went 6-6, falling to Horizon in the second round of the playoffs. In its second season as an official sport, girls flag football finished the season 3-9. Notre Dame Prep boys soccer also struggled last season, going 3-13-2, but the girls were able to bring home the 5A Championship last season while finishing the year 14-8.

Brittany Bowyer is a Report for America corps member, covering sports for Independent Newsmedia in Arizona. Report for America places talented journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues and regions.