Westlake; A Hellas Turf System For Champions

"Our kids love it (Hellas Matrix Helix® turf)," says Westlake Head Coach Tony Salazar. "Obviously they love the pop and color on our field, the new logos, and the emblems. You can see this thing from outer space. We want the whole world to know what great memories and hard work has come on this field."
Westlake had their 54 game win streak snapped in 2022 and have won 75 percent of their football games since opening in 1970. Hellas has installed Matrix Helix® turf in more than half of the home stadiums of Texas high schools with at least four UIL state football championships. "Those are some programs that know how to win there's no doubt," says Salazar. "We wanted the best and luckily our administration, and our school district, and our community passed a bond that allowed us to support our student-athletes." "That's very exciting for the kids to be playing on a brand new (Hellas) surface that looks so good,” says Eanes ISD Athletic Director Callan Nokes. “We wanted the best that we could get for our players. We had the opportunity to do that and we were excited to be able to do it," added Nokes. Salazar says, "It's such an upgrade from traditional synthetic turf fields as we know it."
Westlake has won three of the last four state titles and four overall since 1996. Westlake elected to go with Matrix Helix synthetic turf installed by Hellas and Ecotherm® infill, which will keep field temperatures about 30 degrees cooler than traditional infill products. "Having this Ecotherm in here has made a big difference," says Nokes. "We don't feel the heat coming from under our feet like we used to. We feel the heat from above, but not on the surface." "We have been telling our community that this is the best there is," says Salazar. "Ecotherm keeps the temperatures way down and helps our kids keep fresh legs and staying healthy."
Hellas also installed a poured in place e-layer known as a Cushdrain® at Chaparral Stadium that provides maximum shock absorption and facilitates field drainage below the turf surface. "The Cushdrain is protection for our players," says Salazar "We want nothing but the best for our student-athletes to feel comfortable."
Westlake is truly on a Matrix Helix field of champions with Ecotherm and Cushdrain all installed by Hellas from the ground up.
Other Westlake Notes: Future Hall of Fame Quarterback Drew Brees guided the Chaps to their first state title in 1996 under legendary head coach Randy Allen, who’s Chaps beat the school Randy played for Abilene Cooper 55-17. The Chaps have played in 11 state finals. In fact another former Westlake quarterback Nick Foles guided the Philadelphia Eagles to an NFL Title in 2018. Winning three state championships in a row from 2019 through 2021 led by head coach Todd Dodge is something the former Longhorn Quarterback was able to do at Southlake Carroll as the Dragons head coach years earlier. Todd's long time defensive coordinator Tony Salazar took over the head coaching duties at Westlake last year and the Chaps increased their winning streak to 50 games before falling to North Shore in the state semifinals.