By:
Tom Nordlie (352) 392-0400Source(s):
Grady Miller glmi@ufl.edu, (352) 392-1831 ext. 375
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — University of Florida Turfgrass Club teams have taken second and fourth place in a national sports-turf knowledge competition, the Student Collegiate Challenge.
The event was held at the annual meeting of the Sports Turf Managers Association Jan. 18-21 in Orlando. It was the first time UF entered the competition, said Grady Miller, an associate professor with UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and the club’s faculty adviser.
Students on the second-place team are Matt Eichmann, a senior from Tampa, Fla.; Asa High, a master’s degree student from Bradenton, Fla.; Ryan Swilley, a junior from Plant City, Fla.; and Wendy Walsh, a senior from Palm City, Fla.
Members of the fourth-place team are Troy Abbott, a junior from DeFuniak Springs, Fla.; Jason Frank, a master’s degree student from Deland, Fla.; Pauric McGroary, a master’s degree student from Donegal, Ireland; and Brett Perez, a senior from Brandon, Fla.
All the UF students are pursuing degrees in turfgrass science except McGroary, who is studying nematology.
Twenty teams representing 16 universities took part in the competition, Miller said. Members of each team worked together to complete a written exam that covered topics including agronomy, diseases, insects, plant and weed identification, and sports-specific turf management.
UF’s teams initially tied for first place and third place in the competition, but were overtaken in a tie-breaker by Purdue University and Penn State University, respectively. The final positions were determined by comparing the teams’ scores on one section of the exam.
“Having two teams finish in the top five was fantastic,” Miller said. “I’m very proud of our students for making the most of this opportunity.”
Also at the STMA meeting, Wendy Walsh was named the 2006 undergraduate recipient of the Watson Scholarship, the highest student honor bestowed by association. Walsh was chosen on the basis of her academic performance and extracurricular activities; she will receive $2,000.
-30-
0
