PORTLAND, Ore. --- For the second time in the past three years, Portland Athletics' Fields Manager Kevin White has been awarded the Field of the Year Award for his maintenance and care of Merlo Field, announced the Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA). White also earned the honor for Merlo Field in 2016.
White received a B.S. in Turfgrass Management from Cal Poly Pomona and has been working in the industry for 17 years, which includes eight years in golf and now nine years in Sports Turf. He came to the University of Portland in July of 2015 after spending the previous six years at Seattle U.
Every year, 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 levels.
"Each year our awards committee selects the natural grass playing surface that exemplifies the STMA member's hard work and dedication to sports turf management and their passion for field safety and playability," says Kim Heck, CAE, CEO of STMA. "With each passing year, the bar is raised by each applicant helping to grow the sports turf industry."
A panel of 13 judges independently scored 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. Winners receive a plaque, recognition at the STMA annual Awards Banquet, and will be featured in a 2019 issue of SportsTurf Magazine, the official monthly publication of STMA.
The 2018 winners are featured below:
Professional
Baseball – CHS Field at St. Paul Saints (St. Paul, Minn.): Marcus Campbell, Sports Field Manager
Soccer – Red Bull Arena at New York Red Bulls (Harrison, N.J.): Dan Shemesh, Director of Grounds
College and University
Baseball – Melching Field at Conrad Park at City of Deland (Deland, Fla.): Brad Keith, Sports Field Manager
Football – Kenan Stadium at University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill, N.C.): Casey Carrick, CSFM, Director of Athletic Grounds and Turf Management
Soccer – Merlo Field at University of Portland (Portland, Ore.): Kevin White, Athletic Field Manager
Softball – Captains Park at Christopher Newport University (Newport News, Va.): Chris Webb, Assistant Director of Grounds
Sporting Grounds – 5/3 Bank Stadium at Kennesaw State University (Kennesaw, Ga.): Shane Hohlbein, CSFM, Sports Turf Manager
Schools and Parks
Baseball – Norbrock Stadium at City of Kamloops (Kamloops, B.C.): Shawn Cook, Sports Field Manager
Football – Donald Lambert Field at Brentsville District High School (Nokesville, Va.): Andrew Miller, Turfgrass Management Program Educator
Soccer – Varsity Soccer Field at Avon High School (Avon, Ind.): Matt Dudley, Athletic Fields & Grounds Supervisor
Softball – Blue Eagle Softball Complex at Clover School District (Clover, S.C.): Lee Clinton, CSFM, Sports Turf Supervisor
Sporting Grounds – Pleasant View Championship Field at City of Boulder (Boulder, Colo.): Aaren LeMieux, Sports Field Manager
