On the road again

I haven’t been to every high school football stadium in the nation so I can’t say for sure but Wyomissing’s A-Field has to be one of the nicest venues in the country.

It’s an idyllic setting, tucked away in a quaint neighborhood, with a gorgeous backdrop of trees that add a golden touch late in the fall. I’ve called it the Wrigley Field of high school football, and I’ll stick with that description.

The Spartans obviously love playing there; they haven’t lost a game on that field the past three seasons. They were expecting to get one more chance to play at the A-Field Saturday, in a state quarterfinal, but the PIAA had other ideas.

Despite the fact that Wyomissing is positioned at the top of the PIAA bracket, which makes it the home team, and despite the fact it played there last year in a state semifinal against Danville, the school has been told that it can’t play there again this season.

Many of us are confused by that decision; some are upset about it.

“The disappointing part is people (looked ahead), and saw that we could host a first-round game,” said athletic director Frank Ferrandino, an assistant coach. “We were under the assumption that we would host — that was known throughout the community. It’s disappointing for the kids and the community. You’d like to tell your seniors they have one more game at home.”

Part of the charm of the A-Field is that it has a grass playing surface and no lights. That means the Spartans always play home games on Saturday afternoons. Back in the day, many schools did. Now, it’s unique and, to many, all the more appealing. Honestly, Wrigley Field hasn’t been quite the same since it added lights.

Wyomissing fought this battle with District 3 for many years. District officials initially required playoff games to be played on Friday night or, if on a Saturday, on artificial turf. They were concerned about bad weather and not being able to postpone. So the Spartans played their district home games at nearby Shirk Stadium, Mifflin Stadium, or Gurski Stadium.

Finally, after years of back and forth, District 3 relented in 2014. Under the stipulation that Wyomissing have a backup venue lined up, in case of expected weather issues, it allowed the Spartans to play their home playoff games at home.

There have been zero issues since. Until now. Word came down last week, before the District 3 championship game vs. Boiling Springs: If you win, find a turf site for the next round.

Mark Byers, PIAA Chief Operating Officer, explains that standard operating procedure for interdistrict games is to play Friday night in the home team’s district but not on their home field. Last year that policy was relaxed because of COVID and the fact that many schools were not interested in having outsiders use their facility.

It’s been relaxed in cases this year, too. At least nine schools are playing on their home field, including Gov. Mifflin. Harrisburg, which has turf, will play at home Saturday.

“The Board of Directors authorized the use of home sites where the facility meets our needs,” Byers explained in an email.

It is confusing and inconsistent that the PIAA does not adhere to the same policy as District 3, which is part of the PIAA. Why not allow Wyomissing the option of playing at home on Saturday with the stipulation the game be moved if there’s a threat of rain? That policy has worked out fine.

Ferrandino was doing his best to be diplomatic when asked about this. Spartans head coach Bob Wolfrum doesn’t concern himself with such pleasantries.

“For the life of me, I can not understand why you’re not allowed to play on grass,” he said upon hearing the PIAA’s explanation. “Anybody who’s been to our stadium (knows) our field is second to none. Jon (Yorgey, the grounds foreman), really knows what he’s doing and really cares about it. That field still is in great shape.

“I guess they’re worried that some fields are mud pits at this time of year, but that’s not the case with our field. I just don’t understand why all of a sudden it has to be turf.”