Since 1992, STMA presents the industry’s highest honors to members who manage baseball, football, soccer, softball and other sporting playing surfaces at the professional, collegiate, schools (K-12), and parks and recreation level. The 2017 winners are:
Professional:
Parkview Field at Ft. Wayne Tincaps, Ft Wayne, IN Keith Winter, Head Groundskeeper (Baseball)
Moneygram Soccer Park Field 8 at FC Dallas, Frisco, TX Troy Crawford, Director of Grounds (Soccer)
College and University:
Cleveland S. Harley Baseball Park at University of South Carolina Upstate, Spartanburg, SC Travis Dill, Sports Turf Technician (Baseball)
Historic Grant Field at Georgia Tech University, Atlanta, GA Chris May, Director of Athletic Grounds (Football)
Osborne Stadium at Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA Brian Hinkley, CSFM, Athletic Field Manager (Soccer)
Patricia Wilson Field at Stetson University, DeLand, FL Steve Barnard, Field Maintenance Technician (Softball)
5/3 Bank Stadium at Kennesaw State, Kennesaw, GA Shane Hohlbein, CSFM, Sports Turf Manager (Sporting Grounds)
Schools and Parks:
McLean County PONY Baseball, Bloomington, IL Andy Ommen, Head Groundskeeper (Baseball)
Cowboys Field at Jim Warren Park, Franklin, TN John Wagnon, Athletic Crew Chief (Football)
Longfellow Park at Park District of Oak Park, Oak Park, IL Travis Stephen, Sports Field Manager (Soccer)
Blue Eagle Softball Complex at Clover School District, Clover, SC Will Rogers, CSFM, Sports Turf Manager (Softball).
Pleasantview Championship Field at City of Boulder, Boulder, CO John Cogdill, Manager (Sporting Grounds)
Rogers has now received this prestigious honor four times (2014, 2015, 2016), each in a different sporting category. Three-time winners include Hohlbein (2015, 2016) and Cogdill (2014, 2015). “Field of the Year” award winners for the second time include Barnard (2011) and May (2014).
A panel of 13 judges independently scores entries based on playability, appearance of surfaces, utilization of innovative solutions, effective use of budget and implementation of a comprehensive agronomic program. Judges may not award a field in each category. Winning fields will be featured in a 2018 issue of this magazine.
Awards will be presented at the annual awards ceremony held during the 29th annual STMA Conference and Exhibition in Fort Worth, TX, which is January 16-19, 2018. Winners also receive complimentary conference registration, three nights’ hotel accommodations and signature clothing.