Rockford — Two of Rockford’s athletic facilities have been named among the best in the nation by the American Sports Builders Association.
In December, the ASBA — a national organization for sports facility builders and material suppliers — announced the winners of its awards for distinguished sports facilities. The district and project engineers GMB Architecture & Engineering earned honors for Rockford High School’s new tennis courts and upgraded baseball and softball fields.
Rockford’s 12 new post-tensioned asphalt tennis courts and bleacher areas, installed in summer 2025 and paid for with funds from the district’s 2019 bond, received the silver award in the Outdoor Tennis Facility of the Year category.
“Our new tennis courts have quickly become a source of pride and connection for our students, athletes and the Rams community,” Superintendent Steve Matthews said in a statement. “We’re thrilled to see our investment in student experience and wellness honored in this way.”
Rockford’s all-turf high school baseball and softball fields, which were updated in 2024, were also recognized as a distinguished facility. The turf field upgrades included new batting cages and bullpens, and were also funded using bond dollars.
Shawn Hawyard, the district’s director of operations, said the awards reflect the district’s commitment to its students and community.
“It means a ton for us,” Hayward said. “Every school system is striving for the best, and this shows that the direction we’re heading in is … to be the best for our community.”
Hayward said the district is thrilled to have had the community throw its support behind these projects by approving the 2019 bond.
“I hope that in the future we can continue to strive to be the sought-after school because of our facilities,” he said. “And I’m grateful that I can work for a district that takes pride in their facilities.”
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