Finally, after years of anticipation and uncertainty about whether construction will actually take place or if it was just a rumor, the truth has finally come out and the verdict reads that Oberlin track and field, soccer and lacrosse will all have a new home. The Schults Field, named for long-time soccer coach Fred Schults, will be surrounded by the Robert Kahn eight-lane track, named for the sponsor of the construction, and will be ready for competition this upcoming fall.

The field will be equipped with bleachers that will stretch across its west side, able to seat a majority of the student body. Teams will finally be able to play night games, as lights will soon look down on the field from the treetops, in an effort to encourage more attendees to see Yeomen and women’s competitions. There will also be a brand new press box and scoreboard to top off the new stadium.

This is a tremendous first step in the athletic advancement at Oberlin. It demonstrates a commitment to encouraging better athletes to gravitate towards Oberlin over another school, something that will bring future success to Yeomen athletics.

But while the soccer teams await the tape being cut and the gates being opened in the fall, a buzz radiates around Schults Field and the Robert Kahn Track in anticipation. With the men’s soccer team looking better than ever alongside a women’s side spearheaded by new coach Kristen Hayden, the buzz can potentially turn into a sting, as every day the beginning of the fall sports season inches closer, and Schults Field and the Robert Kahn Track await the arrival of footsteps to mark their official and long-awaited opening.