Turf Teams Sweep Contest
March 06, 2025 - 11:20 AM
Mt. SAC Turf Teams recently mowed the competition at the annual Sports Field Management Association's Student Challenge, taking first, second and third place and beating out major universities.
Three teams of four competed in the annual contest, which has students respond to
short-answer case study questions, multiple choice questions, identification of physical
samples of turf, weeds, pathogens, soils, engine components, and irrigation components,
solve math problems for calibrating fertilizer applications and irrigation outputs
, and complete a surprise hands-on competent, all over the course of two and a half
hours.
The Mt. SAC teams, under the direction of Professor Chaz Perea, beat out agriculture science powerhouse Penn State. Only one other community college – Kirkwood in Cedar Rapids, Iowa – participates in the Student Challenge. Other regular competitors in the competition are Iowa State, Virginia Tech, Rutgers, Purdue, and Ohio State.
The College offers only two turf courses, so Perea tutored students Friday nights for 21 weeks to prepare them for the contest.
“This is like an academic decathlon for turf,” said Perea, who himself competed in the competition as a student in 2009, 2010 and 2011. “I’m thrilled at our win, especially after having to rebuild the program following the pandemic.”
The winning teams receive a $5,000 cash award, a first-place trophy, plaques for second and third place, and medallions for each team member. The prize money benefits Mt. SAC’s Park and Sports Turf Management program and creates opportunities for students pursuing a career in sports field management.
Mt. SAC offers an associate degree of science in Park and Sports Turf Management, and two certificates, one in Park Management and one in Sports Turf Management.
