Lakewood Ranch Prep athletics building for the long term

The Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy's football field is an eye-catching sight off White Eagle Boulevard and Crossland Trail. 

The field is still under construction, with Ryan Construction handling the duties. It is expected to be ready by the time the 2023-2024 school year begins in August and Upper school principal Cheryl Cendan said the field will feature AstroTurf and cost approximately $1.4 million to build.

The cost is high, but not unusual for a school that wants to have a competitive football program. 

What is unusual is that Lakewood Ranch Prep does not have a football program. 

At least, it does not yet, and will not for another two to three years, according to Athletic Director Racquel Standifer. Though the school's community is excited about the prospect of fielding a team, Standifer said, the school does not want to rush things. 

"We have a lot of interest in football, but we're taking it slow," Standifer said. "It's just about getting everything together. I think if you go too fast (when putting a program together) you tend to have to backtrack later and fix things. So we're starting slow and adding a few steps here and there. With the field, we're making the foundation."

A football program requires more than just a field and willing players, Standifer said. The school will need funds to raise money for things like equipment and travel. It can get sponsors to help with that, Standifer said, but when the school is already having to pay for uniforms — which can cost approximately $4,000 per sport — and equipment for its other sports, which include basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis, volleyball, golf, cross country and flag football, adding football now would be an expensive headache. Standifer said the school hopes that its incoming freshman class will have the chance to play football as seniors.

Photo by Ryan Kohn

The wait is not a problem for Lakewood Ranch Prep, Cendan said. The school, a member of Charter Schools USA, will be ready to host a program when the time comes, and in the meantime, the field can be used for soccer as well as certain gym class activities.

Since the field was in the original plans for the school, the expense was not a surprise and was in the budget. It will be one of several athletic facilities on the 18-acre campus once construction on the upper school is complete, including a gym and tennis courts. The other facilities will be put to their intended use right away — but not the football field. 

Some schools do not allow other sports to practice on their football fields out of fear of the playing surface being muddled, but that will not be the case at Lakewood Ranch Prep. Cendan said the reason the school invested in AstroTurf is because it is built to last.

The turf's density will ensure the field is still pristine once the football program arrives, even with other sports and classes using it. In the meantime, Lakewood Ranch Prep athletes interested in football are welcome to elect to play for a school that does have a program, as is customary at others schools without football programs, like the Sarasota Military Academy — though Standifer said she hopes they return once the Eagles themselves take the field.  

File photo

The football field is an example of Lakewood Ranch Prep's ethos when it comes to athletics: Patience. The Eagles have big goals, Standifer said, and hope to compete for state titles in many sports someday, but that day will has to remain on the horizon for now. The school has received provisional approval from the Florida High School Athletic Association to compete in FHSAA events as a Class 2A school. That status will remain for three years; during that time, the Eagles can play in FHSAA contests, but cannot compete for district, regional or state titles. 

The school is also in the process of getting its courses recognized by the NCAA so that its high-level athletes can obtain scholarships from NCAA member schools. Since the school uses standard Florida course codes, the school is confident it will get approval, but it is a process that takes time nonetheless.

Despite these restrictions, the school will field its other programs this upcoming season, at both the middle school and high school levels, with the high school teams competing as junior varsity teams. Even though the teams cannot compete for the playoffs, Standifer said, she expects everyone who represents the Eagles to have a great athletic experience. That could include placing high-level middle school athletes on junior varsity teams to better prepare them for varsity athletics in a few years, as The Out-of-Door Academy and other private schools have done. But every decision the school makes athletically will be to serve its students' best interest. 

Right now, that means easing into the competitive side of sports and putting an emphasis on enjoyment. 

"I want to make sure our teams get good schedules," Standifer said. "I want them to have simple seasons. I don't want anyone to get overwhelmed. I want them to have fun. And then each year after, things will get a little more serious. We're going to keep our coaches on board and hopefully create a family atmosphere."