Ava Veith doesn’t understand why more athletes, when they finish playing collegiate sports on turfgrass, don’t pursue careers related to taking care of the playing surface that supported their exploits. To her, it’s a natural progression.
The Williamsburg, Virginia, native earned her master’s degree in plant pathology at Virginia Tech before coming to Penn State to pursue a doctoral degree in agricultural and environmental plant science, advised by Chase Straw, Ph.D., assistant professor of turfgrass soils and director of the Center for Sports Surface Research in the College of Agricultural Sciences. Veith played varsity soccer at Virginia Tech.
This summer, Veith worked with the grounds crew at MetLife Stadium near New York City in East Rutherford, New Jersey, employing cutting-edge scientific techniques and devices to assess and maintain the playing surface there. She provided information both to her supervisor — Tyler Morris, head groundskeeper at MetLife Stadium — and FIFA.
Read the full article by Jeff Mulhollem on the Penn State site.