Cardinals Find Turf Home While Weather Hits Their Backyard

North Idaho College’s softball squad has been on a quest for a stable playing field, juggling venues from high‑school parks to the city’s own Memorial Field. This spring, a mix of mild temperatures and persistent rain forced the team to relocate their home games to an artificial turf field at the Marimn Health Coeur Center in Worley, 27 miles south of their campus. The move was driven by practical concerns: turf drains quickly and remains playable even when snow covers the ground, unlike the muddy, water‑logged dirt at Memorial.

The Cardinals’ first home game this season was set for the early March weekend, a date that proved tricky because Worley’s turf is only unusable if there’s a foot of snow. Athletic Director Shawn Noel highlighted that weather is a bigger obstacle than travel logistics; opponents often come from far away and must play regardless of conditions. He noted that playing at Worley removes the need for daily maintenance tasks like raking, pumping puddles, or fixing field lines.

Last year’s challenges included a temporary move to Airport Park in Lewiston because Worley’s fields were still under construction, and sporadic use of other high‑school sites when Memorial was unplayable. The team also faced regulatory hurdles: a new NJCAA rule required padded backstops, something Memorial’s wooden barrier did not provide. While the NWAC had only recommended padding, NIC needed to upgrade its home field to meet NJCAA standards—a costly and time‑consuming process.

Coach Michael Garoutte expressed frustration over the lack of an on‑campus facility. He praised Memorial’s scenic setting—“the lake right in view”—but lamented the need to travel for games. Students like freshman Maycee Madsen and sophomore Charlie Stern appreciated the high‑quality turf but miss the historic charm of their former home. Their practice schedule split between Worley, an indoor facility in Spokane Valley, and the campus’s own gym, helping them adapt to the turf’s feel.

Travel costs add another layer of strain. Noel estimates a $1,500 daily fee to host games in Worley, covering locker rooms and concessions. The Cardinals also consider using the Coeur Center’s soccer turf when their own Eisenwinter Field gets soggy in late fall. A possible on‑campus field has been discussed, with a parking lot near the treatment facility as a candidate site, but funding and logistics remain uncertain.

Despite the upheaval, NIC has managed to keep its season on track. The team faced a weather‑delayed doubleheader against Big Bend Community College, which was moved to Moses Lake because of a missing fence. Overall, the Cardinals have played all scheduled games, often drawing around 65 fans to Worley’s modest stands. Their final home series will be against Utah State‑Eastern on April 24–25, a match they hope to draw more student spectators for despite the distance.

In sum, NIC’s softball program has turned a series of logistical setbacks into an opportunity to play consistently on reliable turf, while its leadership continues to explore long‑term solutions that would bring the team back to a permanent on‑campus home.