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MyspaceSan Marcos High’s football team will be playing this fall on a synthetic turf field in Warkentin Stadium – the new name that the school’s outdoor arena will carry after four decades as Valley Stadium.
John and Mardi Warkentin were present at a groundbreaking ceremony last week. Their family donated $500,000 toward the funding of a durable, permanent turf on the heavily used field. Part of their donation was earmarked toward improvements of the running track at the stadium.
With the big boost from the Warkentins, “The Field of Champions” campaign has raised $900,000 toward its goal of $1 million, according to co-chairs Tim Vom Steeg and Rich Ridgway..
Courtesy Photo
John and Mardi Warkentin
John Warkentin made his name in track and field as a national champion in the decathlon (1970). The son of a missionary, he was born in India and grew up in Fresno. After graduating from Fresno State, he moved to Santa Barbara with his wife Mardi to continue his training under the guidance of UCSB coach Sam Adams.
Amateur rules were strictly enforced in those days, and all Warkentin received was a meager subsidy from the AAU. “We got a dollar a day,” said Mardi, then a nurse. But after John got law degree, they went into the real estate business, and it proved profitable.
The Warkentins raised three children. Although outstanding athletes, none of them performed in the stadium during their high school years at San Marcos. Kara and Paul were tennis stars, taking after their mother. Mark Warkentin was a swimmer who competed in the open-water swim at the Beijing Olympics.
Donors are still being sought to complete the funding of the turf field and the track upgrade. Anyone interested should contact Scottee Reid at (805-679-7592) or visit thefieldofchampions.com.
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Comments
It's great that these people were able to achieve so much personal gratification through their athletics.
However, did anyone stop to ask any of the academic departments, especially math and science, if an injection of half a million dollars would be useful for equipment in their departments to stimulate student interest in math and science?
Athletics are mass media marketed 24/7/365. Very sexy.
Math and science need help, the fate of our economy hangs in the balance.
Astro-turf seems like a waste of precious resources, in these budget strapped times .
LasBrisas (anonymous profile)
June 29, 2011 at 9:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
LasBrisas, artificial turf may not be the waste of resources you think it is. The district will probably feel some good savings in ongoing turf maintenance, rehabilitation, and irrigation costs. These savings in turn can be redirected toward math and science support.
If I were blessed to have a half million in spare change on me to give to the school, I wonder what I would designate it for? Of course, the academic programs need much help and that's the prime reason we have the school. But if I gave it to math and science, it would enable them to substitute my money for tax money (that is apparently quite scarce), and there would be no net gain to the school and its academic program anyway. There's probably less scope for that "substitution effect" when you designate gifts toward programs like athletics.
OldDawg (anonymous profile)
June 30, 2011 at 6:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hope that astroturf ain't as hard on the kids as it used to be on the pros.
spacey (anonymous profile)
July 1, 2011 at 12:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)