Since the inception of the New York State Turf and Grounds Exposition, the four-year (baccalaureate) traveling trophy has been held by SUNY Cobleskill. The four-year team captured the trophy again at the annual competition held recently in Rochester, NY. Team members include Sean Nolan, Josh Fontaine, Brodie Sherburne and Donny Cervantes.
The two-year (associates) trophy is also back in Cobleskill for the first time in six years, as the two-year team also won top honors. The winning team consists of Joshua Callan, Callahan Tyler, Ryan Whitaker and Greg Hunkins.
SUNY Cobleskill students also excelled in the individual competitions, with Chris Duffy taking first place and Brodie Sherburne taking second in the four-year division. Josh Callan placed third in the two-year competition.
Scholarships were awarded to four SUNY Cobleskill students. The Stephen V. Moffitt III Scholarship, for $1,000 was awarded to Josh Fontaine. Sean Nolan was awarded the Hahn Memorial Scholarship, which provided Nolan with $1,000, as well. Both Brian Kelly and Brian Weltz were awarded New York State Turfgrass Association Scholarships for $400 each.
“I am extremely proud of all the students who competed in the Turf Bowl,” said Alex Ellram, Professor of Plant Science who oversees the Turfgrass Management program at SUNY Cobleskill. “Their hard work paid off and helped to continue the winning tradition of SUNY Cobleskill Turf Bowl teams.”
Students enrolled in SUNY Cobleskill’s Turfgrass Management program primarily specialize in golf course management, with some students pursuing careers in athletic field maintenance or lawn care operations.
“Our turf programs over the last three decades have graduated many students who have gone on to become well known in the turf industry,” added Professor of Plant Science Zhongchun Jiang. “That is due to the solid foundation that they obtained here at SUNY Cobleskill, not just from Turfgrass Management faculty but also from other members of the Plant Science faculty and across campus.”
