FIELD OF THE YEAR PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL
SportsField Management ( SFM ): Congratulations on the Field of the Year win . What are you most proud of with this win , and / or what do you think stands out most about the winning field ? Leah Withrow : I think what makes this win so special is that my peers recognize all of the hard work we put into this field , day in and day out . We do it with just myself , my full-time assistant , my seasonal assistant and my intern , so everybody had a hand in every part of this field . We had to overcome many hurdles , and my crew not only took on the challenge , but exceeded expectations .
SFM : What attracted you to a career in sports field management , and what has been your career path through the industry ? Withrow : I was drawn to the fact that it was a handson job and I wasn ’ t glued to a desk . I love being outside , I love sports , I love biology / science , and this industry blends all those things together . My first ever internship
was with the Reno Aces in 2015 , I completed an internship with the Milwaukee Brewers the following summer before returning to Reno as a seasonal assistant in 2017 . Post graduation in May of 2018 , from North Dakota State University , I accepted a job at Northern Arizona University . I was then offered to come back as a full-time assistant in Reno for the 2019 season that led to a quick promotion in 2020 to head groundskeeper .
SFM : Who would say are your mentors in the industry , and / or what is the best piece of advice you have received ? Withrow : I would say Grant Trenbeath is a big one , because without him allowing me to shadow him , I would not be here . Then I would definitely give a lot of credit to both Tom Drietz and Joe Hill who taught me not only how to be a good field manager , but to be a good leader that the crew respects and looks up to . All three of these men have driven me to the spot I am today , accepting a Field of the Year award , and I
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RESULTS sportsfieldmanagementonline . com May 2023 | SportsField Management
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