SHSU Celebrates Grand Reopening of Pritchett Field

SHSU Celebrates Grand Reopening of Pritchett Field

Sam Houston State University is celebrating the official reopening of Pritchett Field, the original stomping grounds of Bearkat Football. Now home to the Bearkat Women’s Soccer Team, the men’s and women’s rugby teams, men’s and women’s club soccer, quadball and women's club lacrosse, the field has been revamped to improve the experience for Bearkat student-athletes.

Completed in collaboration with Student Affairs, Campus Recreation, Bearkat Athletics and university Chief Financial Officer Amanda Withers, improvements include new turf, goalposts for rugby and a shock pad to reduce impact-related injuries for contact sports.

“Getting an upgrade at Pritchett is something I have been wanting to see since my freshman year,” said Haleigh Geiger, vice president of SHSU Quadball. “The new field will make it so much easier to both practice and compete. Pritchett is such a unique part of Sam Houston and I'm grateful to see it cleaned up and improved.” 

Pritchett field’s latest upgrades aim to breathe new life into not only the field, but those playing on it. For the 11-year-old club quadball team, the improvements are invigorating. But another group is feeling even more energized.

Originally known as the SHSU Rugby Football Club, the men's rugby team has been active on campus since 1973. Since then, rugby has grown to include both men's and women's teams.

Jackson Rauch, the current men’s team president, is happy to see the field being upgraded to better support his fellow athletes.

“Rugby is a great sport to watch, and Prichett is a beautiful place to do it,” Rauch said. “Getting an official rugby pitch with the university has been a project and passion decades in the making. The new field is an update that shows the results of countless alumni and current players sacrificing and working hard to make rugby a more official sport here at the school.”

While teams have begun practicing on the new field, few have yet to hold their first home games. That honor went to the Bearkat Women’s Soccer team, winning their first game 10-0 against Lamar.

“It’s exciting to see the team competing on our new and improved field,” said Kendall Ayers, head coach of the Bearkat Women’s Soccer Team. “We see this new turf as a symbol of new beginnings and another step forward for our program. We’re grateful for the support and success we’ve experienced on the field, and we’re excited to build on that momentum this season. We look forward to creating new memories, continuing to grow as a team and representing Sam Houston.”

Matches coming up on Pritchett Field are as follows:
Bearkat Women’s Soccer – Sept. 21, 5 p.m. vs Texas A&M San Antonio
                                                Sept. 26, 7 p.m. vs Kennesaw State *CUSA
Women’s Club Rugby – Nov. 14
Men’s Club Rugby – Sept. 19 vs SHSU Rugby Alumni
                             Oct. 3 vs Texas State
Women’s Club Soccer – Oct. 10, 2 p.m. vs UTSA