FIELD OF THE YEAR SCHOOLS & PARKS FOOTBALL
Level and category of submission: Schools & Parks Football
Field manager: Jake Mays Title: Grounds and athletic fields manager
Education: Bachelor’ s degree, Turfgrass Management
Experience: Worked on fields as a youth and through high school. Attended Virginia Tech for Turfgrass Management. Summer intern for the Boston Red Sox in 2017. Summer intern for the Washington Nationals in 2018. Seasonlong internship with the Seattle Seahawks’ practice facility in 2019. Took a position as the head sports turf manager at the Lovett School. Then as head groundskeeper with the Fredericksburg Nationals in 2021. Worked with Nolan Thomas and Company in sports field construction. Then grounds and athletic fields manager at the Westminster Schools in Atlanta.
Original facility construction: 1955
Full-time staff: Bret Thatcher, Jake Farrell and Chris Poynton
SportsField Management( SFM): Congratulations on the Field of the Year win. What are you most proud of with this win? Jake Farrell, campus and athletic fields groundskeeper: Field of the Year was a goal our team set its sights on early in the year. We knew it would require attention to detail and going the extra mile— but we didn’ t realize just how long that mile would become. Despite torrential rain from Hurricane Helene, which caused historic flooding and left our field submerged under more than six feet of water, our team— armed with a“ can-do” attitude— pulled together to achieve what I’ m most proud of: hosting a home game just 14 days later. Once the rain stopped, it took about two days for the water to recede, leaving a 4-inch layer of thick silt and mud on our bermudagrass field. Our grounds crew, coaches, athletic staff, and even the transportation department sprang into action with the shared goal of hosting the season’ s final home game.
“ Without the dedication and teamwork of the grounds, athletic and transportation departments, this achievement would never have been possible.”
Turfgrass: 419 bermudagrass
Overseed: We have used Latitude 36 or Tahoma 31 in any resodded wear spots.
Rootzone: Sand
Drainage: Vertical drain lines length of the field on 40-foot spacing
Our progress became more visible every day, and hope began to glimmer. I am proud to say that we prepared the field not only to be safe but to exceed expectations. Without the dedication and teamwork of the grounds, athletic and transportation departments, this achievement would never have been possible.
12 SportsField Management | December 2025 sportsfieldmanagementonline. com