NLHS must wait for new football field to be repaired

New London - The new football field at New London High School, where the Whalers were set to play their season opener against rival Montville on Sept. 17, will not be ready for the game.

Artificial turf, which was recently installed at the school's new athletic complex, will have to be replaced because of insufficient drainage.

Principal Tommy Thompson said the field will have to be dug up and new rocks laid down under the turf.

"It wasn't draining properly and the field was like cement,'' he said.

The school is working on a contingency plan for the upcoming football season and Thompson said he would soon issue a press release with information about where and when games would be played.

Mayor Rob Pero said the city has approached the Coast Guard Academy to see if its football field would be available. Academy officials confirmed Wednesday night that the field would be available to the high school, although a date has not yet been set.

The Coast Guard opened the football field to the high school in June for graduation ceremonies. Seniors had asked for an outdoor graduation so they could invite family and friends to help celebrate. The high school fields were under construction at the time and unavailable.

"It's a disappointment,'' said former City Councilor Margaret Curtin, who was instrumental in getting the $5 million athletic complex project going in 2006.

"We've waited this long, we can wait another two weeks or a month,'' she said.

The field, which will remain named after former New London High School football standout Pat Cannamela, was supposed to be dedicated during half time of the Sept. 17 game, Curtin said.

She anticipates the field will be ready by Oct. 1 and the dedication will be postponed until Oct. 8, when New London plays Waterford High School.

The new athletic complex, includes two multi-use synthetic turf fields and lighting for at least one field. New concrete-block bleachers on the home side of the main field, a concession stand with separate team rooms and storage, and a dedicated, lighted walkway from the school's parking lot to the sports complex will be added.

k.edgecomb@theday.com