Feature

UMD Turf Bowl Team Takes Second in the Nation

By Dr. Lori A. Sefton

"That’s a memory I will never forget,” shared Conner Todd, member of the 2025 UMD Turf Bowl Team. Todd was talking about his experience at this year’s Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GSSAA) National Turf Bowl Competition in San Diego, California. Todd and his teammates took second place nationally, edging out other large turf schools such as Purdue University, Ohio State University, and Colorado State University. Todd, along with teammates Luke Murnane, Zach Onderko, and Joe Poulas, finished just two points behind the leader, Penn State.

The grueling competition included questions covering all aspects of golf course maintenance. “Any turfgrass question was possible,” reported Murnane. “Some of the questions included calculations of fertilizer use, water use, pesticide use, and questions regarding photosynthesis, plant structures, soil structure, even human resource questions, insect life cycles, and turfgrass ID characteristics.” One of the hardest parts of the exam was the turfgrass ID section. “When under pressure, differentiating the turfgrasses can be challenging,” Murnane said. “Some of these grasses are not prevalent in our region, so we have to become familiar with the turfgrasses from greenhouse samples, textbook characteristics and videos.” Conner also explained, “There is such a broad range of samples that they could choose from, and you just have to hope they pick the most common ones that you have studied.”

To prepare for this highly competitive event, Geoff Rinehart, UMD Turf Bowl Team Coach, and his group of seven students, met weekly from August to January. Poulas shared, “We also broke the Turf Bowl Study Guide into separate parts and created a slide deck for each one.” Rinehart said a benefit for this year’s team was the return of three of the four members of the UMD team. “Luke, Joe, and Conner were on last year’s team. This gave us a leg up this year.”

The plan worked. This year’s team, coming off a tie for 11th place last year, performed amazingly against a pool of a total of 76 teams from 29 different schools. “Being able to represent the University of Maryland is an honor. I am so proud of the team and everything we have accomplished,” added Murnan. “To achieve second place highlights the dedication and focus of this team and how close we were to being on top.”

This year’s competition was one of the largest in several years, which highlights the growth and interest in the industry.

The trip to California was not just a chance to compete; it was a chance to connect to industry professionals and visit some of the top turfgrass facilities in the San Diego area. The team visited Torrey Pines Golf Course, which was designed by legendary course architect, William P. Bell, as well as Balboa Stadium, a top-tier sports field in San Diego. “This trip was not only about going to the conference, but to visit some premier turf establishments, which is beneficial,” stated Rinehart.

Meeting and mingling with industry contacts is also a highlight of this annual trip for UMD turfgrass students. “I had overlooked how many UMD grads would be there to witness our achievement,” said Poulas. “When they announced our team as runner-up, there were so many people cheering us on.”

Todd reflected on the boost the win would give his teammates in future career pursuits. “Being able to take our results with us beyond college will make us stand out among others in the industry with our national competition results,” Todd said.

Overwhelmingly, members named the team culture as the best part of the process. “The bonds made with a great group of guys that got to travel, live, and compete together for a week…these relationships will continue long past graduation,” Todd said.

Poulas explained that he cherished the chance to spend the week with his teammates and watch Rinehart’s reaction when the award was presented. “I’ll never forget the look on Geoff’s face when they announced the University of Maryland won second place,” Poulas said, laughing. “A heart attack was not out of the question!”

So, the books close on another competitive year for UMD’s Turf Bowl team. The IAA congratulates Rinehart and his team on a great showing. “The entire College of AGNR is proud of Geoff and his 2025 team,” said IAA Director, Heather McHale. “This team works hard every year, and we are thrilled to welcome them home from their national runner-up results.” And now, on to next year! •