The Kickapoo Chiefs and Lady
Chiefs have enjoyed success over
the recent years, but not on their
home field. Jose Florez Field, home
of the soccer Chiefs has been
completely renovated.
With Primrose Street widened
to five lanes in the next year the
soccer field that lies next to
Primrose had to be moved over 30
yards. The field was supposed to be
completed by May of 2018 but in
May of 2019 the field it is still
under construction.
The field was delayed because
of they lost the surveying points of
the field two times. The survey
points make the field at a one
degree grade. Also the sod laid on
the field was shorted two trucks
delaying the field by months. On
top of the the irrigation system was
not properly done then delaying the
construction even more.
This past fall season for the
boys and spring for the girls all
practices and games have been on
the football field.
Soccer coach Phil Hodge was
hoping to be back on the grass field
by the fall but had to be on the
football field.
“In the fall we had practice at 6
in the morning working with
football’s schedule and the girls
have to share with track. It isn’t
ideal but we make it work,” Hodge
said.
With all of this happening over
the past year and a half the field is
near complete. The soccer chiefs
will finally be on Jose Florez field
in the fall.
The field now has a locker room
for the Chiefs and Lady Chiefs with
the benches connected to the locker
room. There are also new bleachers
for fans to sit on.
Also the goals are not planted in
the ground like the old goals were
so the players can move them off
the field.
The field is fenced all around the
field and this will hopefully defer
people from getting on the field.
“Before anyone could get on
the field and now with the fencing
people can’t. This will keep our
field in the best condition and it
will be the best before it used to
be,” Hodge said.
The field is about to be handed
over to the school and by the fall
the boys will be playing on the new
grass field for the first time.
“It is an exciting time to be a
Chief, I’m really excited for this
new facility. I think it’s going to be
the nicest in the area,” Hodge said.
Now the soccer Chiefs get their
home back and look to have a
bright future on their new facility.