POST-SHOW RECAP
SAFE GOLF TOURNAMENT The SAFE Golf Tournament was held January 13 at Classic Club Golf Course in Palm Desert , California . The winning team shot a 60 : Chris Ball , CSFM Casey Carrick , CSFM Alan Dungey , CSFM Brant Williams
SAFE NIGHT OF BOWLING Teams of five came together for the SAFE Night of Bowling and a chance to compete for prizes . The event was held at Yucca Bowl . The top winner was Sawyer Neuhaus with a score of 210 . The winning team was Mike McDonald , CSFM ; Greg Brodd ; Ben Boeding , CSFM ; Roger Weinbrenner , CSFM ; and Nick Wilz .
LIVE AUCTION The SAFE Foundation Live Auction allowed attendees to bid on sports field management equipment and products , highly desired technology , and sports memorabilia .
SAFE GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS Leo Goertz Membership Grant Awardee ( sponsored by Pioneer Athletics )
— Nathan James , Raleigh County Parks and Rec Authority Darian Daily Legacy Scholarship — Paige Wildt , Southeast Missouri State
University Dr . James Watson Graduate Scholarship Winner ( sponsored by Toro )
— Conlan Burbrink , University of Tennessee
Dr . James Watson Undergraduate Scholarship Winners ( sponsored by Toro ) — Mayra Rubio , Mt . San Antonio College and Tristin Ziola , Michigan State University
Dr . Fred Grau Scholarship — Aidan Hackney , Ohio State University
Paul Zwaska Scholarship ( presented by Beacon Athletics ) — Keyshell Cole Hodgson , Iowa State University
SAFE Graduate Scholarship Winner — Ivan Navarrete , University of Tennessee
SAFE Undergraduate Scholarship Winner — Justin Spencer , Mississippi State University
AWARDS BANQUET FOUNDERS AWARD WINNERS SFMA ’ s highest honors , the four Founders Awards , recognize those members who have made significant contributions to SFMA and to the profession . This year ’ s SFMA Founders Award winners are as follows :
Dick Ericson Award – Larry DiVito , CSFM , Minnesota Twins
The Dick Ericson Award recognizes dedication , innovation and excellence in sports field management .
Larry DiVito was recognized for his unwavering commitment to excellence and an incredible work ethic . Throughout a decades-spanning career , he has worked more than 2,100 consecutive professional baseball games — a feat that speaks to his dedication and resilience .
In addition , DiVito has mastered the science of agronomy , balancing sustainability with performance . Under his leadership , his facility earned SFMA ’ s Environmental Facility Certification and became the first sports franchise in the world to earn LEED Gold Certification for operations and maintenance .
Beyond the field , DiVito is a mentor and leader . His calm demeanor under pressure and ability to foster a collaborative and supportive work environment have shaped the careers of countless groundskeepers , many of whom have gone on to lead their own facilities . DiVito ’ s influence extends beyond his own field , impacting entire communities through field rebuild projects and providing sportsfieldmanagementonline . com March 2025 | SportsField Management
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