Cairn University has upped its game.
The Highlanders completed the G. Patrick Stillman Athletic Complex earlier this year, with state-of-the-art facilities for baseball, softball, men’s and women’s soccer, and men’s and women’s lacrosse.
The brand-new turf stadium is designed for both lacrosse and soccer, with artificial turf spanning the entire field. It has a 300-spectator capacity and a concrete press box.
The baseball diamond, situated with the Mason Activity Center down the third base line, is a dirt and grass field with two state-of-the-art dugouts and bullpens down the first and third base lines. The mound and home plate are clay-based, along with the bullpens. The capacity is approximately 239 spectators.
The softball diamond, sitting directly after the entrance to the facility, is an all-dirt field designed for intercollegiate play. It includes two ultramodern dugouts and bullpens down the first and third base lines. Capacity is approximately 144 spectators.
Groundbreaking was held in April of 2021 and the first event, men’s lacrosse, was played on March 20.
The complex is named for Patrick Stillman, a member of the university’s board of trustees. The Stillman family donated $3 million toward the new facility.
“The Stillman complex has been a tremendous blessing to our student-athletes and the university,” said David Babb, the university’s athletic director who previously held that post at Pennridge High School. “It is exciting for them to be able to train and compete on state-of-the-art athletic fields.”
Senior Aaron Campbell is a four-year member of the men’s soccer team at Cairn. The squad began play on its new field this fall.
“I am absolutely thrilled to be able to spend my final year using the new complex,” said Campbell, a 2019 graduate of Upper Bucks Christian Academy. “It will definitely help boost the program, because not only do we have more seating, but we can also host night games and practices, which allows teams to have great flexibility in schedules.
“We can also start hosting more high school sports camps and events, which should lead to more recognition from high schools and potential recruits.
“At the risk of sounding cliché, it means the world to me to play on this field. I came in as a freshman with the promise of a new field, but played my field year on our old grass field. Once COVID struck, all plans were halted, and we continued to play on the grass field.
“In 2021, construction finally started, which meant that we were practicing and playing in our president’s backyard, local church fields, or the Bristol Township turf. I almost forgot what a home field advantage felt like.”
Athletes in the spring sports are champing at the bit to get their turn to play on the new fields.
“It’s a great opportunity,” said Crystal Sprangers, who will be in her second season as a defender on the women’s lacrosse team.
Women’s lacrosse is making the transition from a club to a varsity sport this spring.
“I am very happy I get to play my senior season on the turf,” said Sprangers, a 2019 graduate of Pennridge. “Especially because now we will have some home games and my friends and family can come out to support us.”
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