Lebanon, IL - For a few weeks this summer, Leemon Field looked a little different.
Once the final spring sports events of an historically successful 2025-26 academic year came to an end for McKendree, one that featured records broken, conference championships, and All-Americans, crews from GeoSurfaces Midwest moved in, removing the old playing surface and beginning the transformation of one of McKendree University's most recognizable athletic venues in Leemon Field. After weeks of construction and a few weather-related delays, the project is complete.
The Bearcat football team officially became the first to take advantage of the new surface during preseason practice on Wednesday, August 5th, while the renovated Leemon Field will make its competition debut when the McKendree women's soccer team hosts Union on Sunday, August 30th. Men's Soccer, Women's Lacrosse, Men's Rugby, and Women's Rugby are all expected to see competition time on the new turf, with most other sports able to benefit in their own ways by having the new surface at their disposal.
The project involved much more than replacing the existing artificial turf.
Leemon Field now features the Pivot Performance System by TenCate, an NFL-grade turf system engineered to provide a durable, high-performance playing surface built to replicate a true natural field. The installation includes a dense 120-ounce synthetic turf system paired with a 20-millimeter shock pad beneath the surface, providing additional cushioning and impact absorption for student-athletes. Included in the Pivot Performance System is GeoCool technology, which is designed to help reduce surface temperatures in warmer weather and create a more comfortable playing environment year-round.
McKendree University Director of Athletics Anthony Francis is thrilled to see the field reach its completion.
"This state-of-the-art project is just another example of the commitment this university has to our student-athletes and athletic programs. Safety, performance, and the overall student-athlete experience were at the top of our list when we decided to move forward with these improvements. I'm excited to see our Bearcats come back to campus this fall and compete on one of the best surfaces in the region.
Head Women's Soccer Coach Tim Strange is also eager, especially given his team will be the first at McKendree to play an official contest on the new surface.
"We are super pumped and excited to get on the incredible state-of-the-art, top-notch surface. As a coach and player, the best thing is to play on the best grass fields in the world like the World Cup. This turf plays like natural grass, and for soccer players that's what you want! FIFA is the governing body of world soccer, and they have approved this turf to be played on, so that should tell you everything you need to know about how great this surface is! I know we are the only one in our conference and region to have this, and it will be a great resource for us."
Headquartered in St. Gabriel, Louisiana, with a Midwest office in Bloomsdale, Missouri, GeoSurfaces has completed athletic surfacing projects throughout the region and across the country. Its Illinois and Missouri portfolio includes Central High School, Mascoutah High School, Webster Groves High School, and Cooper Soccer Park in Springfield, Missouri, the new home of the GLVC Men's and Women's Soccer Championships.
Beyond the Midwest, GeoSurfaces has completed projects for institutions including Baylor, Texas A&M, Arkansas, Auburn, and Florida, as well as the Kennedy Space Center.
