Jessup breaks ground on $2.5M turf field complex

William Jessup University in Rocklin broke ground July 22 for a multi-million dollar turf field complex, which will be used by its soccer and track and field teams, along with other athletic teams and clubs. "We are going from having one of the worst fields in our league to having the best field in our league, and when you do that, it shows we have an investment in our student-athletes and we care about their experience," Jessup Athletic Director Lance Von Vogt said. A crowd of more than 200 attended the ceremony, including dozens of youth soccer players. The plan for the roughly $2.5-million National Football League (NFL) quality turf project began more than 2 1/2 years ago when Jessup men's soccer coach Greg Lazaga brought Blues FC President Dominick DeRosa into Von Vogt's office to discuss the idea. "We just talked about having a mutual interest of serving the community and needing soccer fields and how we can combine our resources, especially when the usage of it complements each other well with us needing it at night and Jessup needing it during the day," DeRosa said. Blues FC is a youth soccer club in Rocklin with more than 500 participants. It has been saving for this project through the club's dues system for 10 years. The dues system is where everyone who is a part of the program pays monthly and the Blues set aside 3 to 5 percent every year for the budget toward field development. On the Jessup side, budget money is being utilized, along with a campaign to get donors to help with its portion. The complex will feature three training fields on the main turf and one 45-by-70 training field on the side. The length of the main soccer field is 135 yards. The grass field that was used for soccer in the past will be turned into a quad where the student body can spend time while not in class. "We're incredibly excited to see this underway and to see this finally put into the ground is a huge day for not only our athletics department but our university as a whole," said Jessup sports information director Matthew Horrocks. "What it means for our athletics department is we can have future places to host camps and outside organizations to build in the community and make Jessup a brand within the Greater Sacramento and Northern California area." The project is projected to be completed in September and will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its grand opening.