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Fujitani Field Again Damaged By Flooding, Leaving Wilton Football Team Without A Home
Dave Ruden
08.19.2024
The floodwaters from yesterday’s storm caused severe damage to Fujitani Field, which in the fall houses the Wilton football and field hockey teams. Though there was some receding today, the turf was under water yesterday and the facility closed until further notice after rain rushed down a huge hill overlooking the stadium, leaving mud, debris and causing pockets and some displacement on the field.
Wilton was hit by over eight inches of rain.
This is the second time in three years a preseason storm has caused overwhelming water damage to the stadium. In 2021 the Wilton football team was forced to play its first six games on the road and repairs ended up costing over $300,000.
“It’s upsetting to have to go through this a second time,” Wilton football coach E.J. DiNunzio said. “We teach the kids to be proactive and we are being reactive. We have to figure this out so two, three, four years from now we don’t have to go through this again.”
All of the high school fields are owned and maintained by the town.
The Warriors are coming off one of the best seasons in program history. They finished 10-3 and advanced to the Class MM final, losing to North Haven, 21-0.
On the eve of today’s first day of practices for all sports besides football, which started OTAs on Thursday, Wilton athletic director Bobby Rushton was forced to scramble and find playing fields for his outdoor teams. Kristine Lilly Field, used by both the boys and girls soccer teams, was also unplayable, though Rushton said he expected it to be available tomorrow.
New Canaan is letting the football team use a turf field today as Rushton waits on a long-term solution. The field hockey and soccer teams are at Weston.
“I was calling athletic directors from all schools within a 15-mile radius and all of them were understanding and tried to be helpful,” Rushton said.
Lilly Field is lined for field hockey, so Rushton said schedule adjustments will need to be made so that three teams, including boys and girls soccer, can use it.
For now, the football team is going to have to use the surrounding grass fields. They are also used by the town’s youth programs, which will also be affected by the situation.
Rushton said an insurance adjustor will have to inspect the field to assess the damage and then work with the company that laid down the turf.
Both Rushton and DiNunzio agreed they will try to use the adversity as a motivating factor.
“We will control the controllables and not let this get in the way of accomplishing what we did last year,” Rushton said.
Added DiNunzio, “We’ve gone through this before and we’re going to get through it again. Our kids are resilient.”
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