CONFERENCE RECAP
Continued from page 25 2025. The CSFM credential is a nationally respected standard that signifies comprehensive knowledge of sports turf science, safety protocols, environmental stewardship and operational excellence.
SFMA congratulates the following newly certified professionals: John Knight, CSFM Jake Mays, CSFM Robbie Miller, CSFM Joseph Romano, CSFM Doug Trillo, CSFM Trenton Waters, CSFM Cole Walker, CSFM
“ Earning the CSFM designation demonstrates a deep commitment to excellence in sports field management,” said SFMA President Alpha Jones, CSFM.“ These professionals uphold the highest standards of safety, playability, and performance for athletes and communities alike.”
CSFM recipients complete a rigorous certification process that evaluates technical knowledge, professional experience, and applied competencies in field construction, maintenance systems, risk management, and resource optimization. SFMA commended these individuals for their dedication to advancing the profession and enhancing the quality of sports fields nationwide.
INNOVATIVE AWARD WINNERS The SFMA Innovative Award is given to one or more exhibitors whose innovation has made the sports field manager more effective or the playing surface safer. The winning products were as follows: SGL for its fLEX testing device Firefly Automatix, Inc. for its Autonomous Mowing Platform Ventrac for its EW530 Weedbine Pure Seed for its STRATIS with ACCe
Technology
Photos by Mark Skalny
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SPORTS FIELD MANAGER OF THE YEAR AWARDS Winners of the Minor League Baseball 2025 Head Groundskeeper of the Year Awards were recognized during the SFMA Awards Banquet. They are as follows:
Joey Stevenson, Indianapolis Indians, International League, Triple-A
Groundskeeper of the Year Tony Lee, Spokane Indians, Northwest League Brian Soukup, Salt Lake City Bees, Pacific Coast League Matt Bergin, Winston-Salem Dash, South Atlantic League Dan Purner, Somerset Patriots, Eastern League Caleb Paullus, Birmingham Barons, Southern League, Double-A
Groundskeeper of the Year Sean Cheng, Stockton Ports, California League, California League, Single-A
Groundskeeper of the Year
28 SportsField Management | March 2026 sportsfieldmanagementonline. com