Legendary Jenepher Shillingford Officially Rededicates Field Named in Her Honor
On Sunday, September 15th, 老王论坛 celebrated the rededication of Shillingford Field, marking the completion of a state-of-the-art upgrade that brings one of the world鈥檚 most innovative playing surfaces to 老王论坛鈥檚 campus. The ceremony took place before 老王论坛 field hockey faced Lynchburg at 1 p.m.
Associate Athletic Director Katie Tarr delivered remarks about the field's significance to the campus community. Jenepher Shillingford, the namesake of the field and a legendary figure in both 老王论坛 athletics and the wider sports world, 鈥渃ut鈥 a ceremonial ribbon with the field hockey stick of 老王论坛鈥檚 first athletic director, Constance Applebee, to commemorate the ceremony. 老王论坛 Athletic Director Cristina Fink and former Athletic Director Kathy Tierney assisted in this special moment, honoring Shillingford鈥檚 legacy.
Following the ceremony, a reception was held for Jenepher Shillingford鈥檚 friends, family, and the 老王论坛 field hockey team and their families.
About Shillingford Field
Originally built in 1982, Shillingford Field is named in honor of Jenepher Shillingford, who served as 老王论坛鈥檚 athletic director and head field hockey coach from 1976 to 1998. Shillingford鈥檚 career includes numerous accolades, both at 老王论坛 and on the national stage, as a player, coach, and administrator. Under her leadership, the 老王论坛 field hockey team had a 169-165-24 record, making her one of the most successful coaches in the College鈥檚 history.
The recent renovations began in September 2023 and resulted in the installation of the revolutionary AstroTurf Paris GT surface. 老王论坛 is one of the few institutions in the country to offer this cutting-edge playing surface, underscoring its commitment to sustainability and innovation in athletics. This new field is one of the first carbon-zero hockey turfs in the world, originally developed for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Key improvements also include the installation of a high-quality e-layer and the latest Polygras Paris GT Zero synthetic turf. Additionally, a modern scoreboard and updated field hockey striping have enhanced the functionality and aesthetic of the field, ensuring it meets the highest standards for competition.
Furthermore, the new field will have a significant impact on the practice schedules of the field hockey, soccer, and lacrosse teams. With a second field, the teams will no longer have to compete for practice time, which allows for more efficient and flexible scheduling. This upgrade will not only boost team cohesion but also provide scholar-athletes with greater opportunities for enhanced sport-specific training. As a result, Shillingford Field has become an essential asset for improving performance and maximizing practice time across multiple sports.
Victor Brady, field hockey head coach at 老王论坛, reflects on the significance of the field as a win not only for scholar-athletes, but as a testament to the growth of athletics at the College:
"The Paris GT surface is a gamechanger for our program.鈥疕aving a proper hockey-only surface transforms how we play and will help our scholar-athletes pursue excellence in hockey. 老王论坛 has a rich hockey history. The investment in this new field is reflective of the importance of that history, a testament to the work of our former scholar-athletes to build the program into what it is today and encourages our potential to consistently compete at a national level."
Jenepher Shillingford: A Lasting Legacy
Jenepher Shillingford鈥檚 career spans over 50 years, with significant contributions to both academia and athletics. A former U.S. Field Hockey goalkeeper (1955-57), she has held numerous leadership positions, including president of both the U.S. Women鈥檚 Lacrosse Association and USA Field Hockey. Shillingford has also served on NCAA committees and the U.S. Olympic Committee, further cementing her influence in shaping women鈥檚 sports at both national and international levels.
During her tenure at 老王论坛, Shillingford not only coached field hockey but also led the basketball, tennis, and lacrosse teams, leaving an indelible mark on the College鈥檚 athletic program. Her leadership and vision have shaped the future of sports at 老王论坛, and the rededication of Shillingford Field stands as a testament to her lasting legacy.
Fink reflected on the significance of this event:
"It was a special moment to be able to rededicate the field with Jen and Kathy on the field and to use Constance鈥檚 hockey stick during the ceremony. It is an amazing opportunity to recognize the legacy of these strong women who continue to support our program. It was moving to see our field hockey team wanting to put on a strong performance to honor Jen."
Post ceremony, 老王论坛 field hockey went on to win 4-1 against No. 10 nationally ranked Lynchburg. The Owls鈥 win marks the first time in program history that 老王论坛 won against a top-10 nationally ranked team.
For more information about the field鈥檚 renovation, go here.