MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WGNS) - Middle Tennessee Christian School is excited to announce renovations to their football/soccer field at Throneberry Stadium. In the coming weeks, they will begin installation of a synthetic turf to replace the current playing surface.

The project is scheduled to be completed before the start of the 2025 fall season. The Cougar girls' soccer team will open the season on Thursday, August 21st and the football team will open the season on Friday, August 22nd.

MTCS Football Coach Christian Peterson says the work will begin soon:  He says this was all made possible by the area businesses coming together, partnering with the school to make this work financially:  Peterson says he's excited for all of the MTCS student athletes that will get to use the facility:

Head soccer coach Braden Stewart says, "As a coach, I'm incredibly thankful for the vision and support of our board and administration. Their commitment, along with the generosity of our donors, has made this new turf field a reality. Having a high-quality, all-weather surface to train and compete on year-round is a game-changer for our program. It's going to elevate the development of our players and the overall experience for our teams." 

This project is made possible by the Hollingshead family and will be named SRM Field. MTCS Athletic Director Jason Piercey says they're happy to continue their longstanding partnership with Warner Athletic Construction who will handle the installation. He adds, "The new artificial turf field marks a significant milestone for MTCS athletics. This state-of-the-art surface will enhance athletic performance, foster a strong sense of pride, and open doors to future growth and achievement. We extend our heartfelt thanks to SRM for their generous support."

MTCS now joins the majority of Rutherford County public high schools that have transitioned to turf fields. The only exceptions are La Vergne and Eagleville. La Vergne is currently planning to install the state’s only blue turf field, with design renderings unveiled late last year. Eagleville, as of the end of the last football season, had no announced plans to replace its natural grass surface. Meanwhile, local TSSAA private school Providence Christian Academy is developing a multi-phase outdoor athletics complex across from its campus, which will eventually include a football field.