Ten Field of the Year winners were honored during the Sports Turf Managers Association’s (STMA) Annual Awards banquet last month in San José. A panel of seven judges independently scored each entry based on the playability and appearance of the playing surfaces, innovative solutions to turf-related issues, effective use of budget, and the development and implementation of a comprehensive, sound agronomic program.
New this year to the Field of the Year program is the Sporting Grounds of the Year, a category implemented to recognize those fields where unique sports such as field hockey, lacrosse, rugby, tennis, or other distinctive sports are played.
The STMA Field of the Year Program would not be possible without the generous support of the Awards Program Sponsors: Carolina Green Corp.; Covermaster, Inc; Hunter Industries; Turface; ScottsTurf-Seed, Inc.; and World Class Athletic Surfaces.
The winners of the STMA Fieldof the Year Awards include:
Sporting Grounds
Professional—Longwood Cricket Club, West Newton, MA, Michael Buras, CSFM
College and University—University of New England, Biddeford, ME, Lance Tibbetts, CSFM
Softball
College and University—Patricia Wilson Field, Stetson University, DeLand, FL, George Marshall
Soccer
Professional—Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, CO, Bret Baird
College and University—Papé Field, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, Eric Fasbender, CSFM
Football
College and University—Lane Stadium, Worsham Field, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, Jason Bowers, CSFM
Schools and Parks—Bobby Gruhn Field, Gainesville, GA, David Presnell
Baseball
Professional—Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium, Appleton, WI, Eddie Warczak
College and University—Russ Chandler Stadium, Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA, Todd Tribble and Jon DeWitt
Schools and Parks—J.W. Sadler Field, Westerville, OH, Kenny Nichols