22-TIME STATE CHAMPION ALCOA TORNADOES CONTINUE DYNASTY ON MATRIX HELIX® TURF & CUSHDRAIN® INSTALLED BY HELLAS

Alcoa, TN (September 26, 2024) – For the second time in program history, the Alcoa Tornadoes have clinched their 9th consecutive high school football state title, adding to an impressive collection of 22 state championships on the gridiron. The Tornadoes now proudly play on the state-of-the-art Matrix Helix® synthetic turf installed by Hellas, A Tencate Company, marking another milestone in this Alcoa athletic dynasty.

"One of the draws to Hellas is they do it all," says Alcoa High School Athletic Director Josh Stephens. "It's a one-stop-shop." Hellas has left a significant mark in Tennessee by installing the same Matrix Helix synthetic turf at several Knoxville area schools, including Eagleton High School, Heritage High School, and William Blount High School.


Matrix Helix® synthetic turf and a Cushdrain® were installed by Hellas at Goddard Field inside Bill Bailey Stadium at Alcoa High School.

"The domino effect of one field selling another has been great for Hellas, especially in the Knoxville area," remarks Hellas Business Development Manager Jimmy Redovian. The Matrix Helix turf and Cushdrain® system have also been utilized at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, where the Tennessee Titans have played since 1999, as well as at the Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park, the Titans' practice facility.

“If Matrix Helix turf is good enough for the Tennessee Titans, it's good enough for Alcoa High School,” explains Stephens. "This is a field of choice these days. We want the best for our kids, our program, our school, and we've achieved that now."

Mr. Stephens added that the Tornadoes had previously struggled to find their true color of maroon on older fields, a challenge they have successfully addressed with the newly installed turf in 2024.




Hellas also implemented a Cushdrain system below Alcoa’s Goddard Field, allowing Bill Bailey Stadium to drain quickly while enhancing shock absorption. This results in improved Gmax ratings, which evaluate the safety and performance of the playing surface. The Cushdrain system, made up of an elastic layer paved over a drainstone foundation, utilizes rubber granules and mineral aggregates bound together with a moisture-cured, non-toxic polyurethane binder.

The Matrix Helix turf features innovative shape memory technology added during the manufacturing process in Chatsworth, Georgia, where each twisted monofilament fiber secures the infill in place. This proven turf system is now used by 14 NFL teams and numerous major college football programs. Additionally, Hellas installed Major Play® Matrix synthetic turf at nearby Lenoir City High School, which included a complete design-build project that encompassed dugouts, fencing, backstops, netting, and Z600 manufactured lights for the softball field. For more on the field installation at Alcoa High School, visit the following video links by Hellas.Youtube or Vimeo