Cavalier Corner is the publication just for UVa sports fans!
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/114138
behind the scenes Sports Turf Manager Jesse Pritchard Jesse Pritchard wasn't sure what he "There's a misconception that the new wanted to be when he grew up, but he synthetic fields are maintenance-free, knew he liked to play in the dirt. which compared to grass they require "I remember helping my grandless maintenance, but when they do mother with her garden growing up, get damaged, it's a much more involved and I always liked plants and gardening," process to repair," Pritchard said. Pritchard said. "I can remember mowing Synthetic fields are a huge benefit to patterns into the yard when I was 12." teams that use them in that they keep Today, Pritchard and his staff of the crew from spending time maintainfour mow patterns into the infield ing grass practice surfaces and give and outfield grass of Davenport the game-day surface time to recover Field, Klöckner Field, Scott Stadium while the teams practice on the synand the varsity softball field. He and Pritchard and the sports field thetic fields. his crew are responsible for all field crew are responsible for 15 "You can play in inclement weather preparation for football, baseball, acres of sports turf, the main- and they can take a lot more play, so softball, soccer, lacrosse and track tenance of four synthetic I look at them as another tool in the and field, including the synthetic fields and the care for athletic sports turf manager's bag." practice fields. His team played an grounds. Unlike other aspects of game-day opPhoto by Jim Daves/courtesy UVa integral role in the turf renovations erations, one of the perks for Pritchard is at Davenport, Klöckner and The Park softball field. that field turf managers get to know many of the coaches on In his seventh year as the sports turf manager at UVa, a more personal level. the University of Tennessee School of Agriculture graduate "We get to know the coaches and players to a greater said he always knew he would be involved in landscaping, degree in baseball and softball. The roots of grounds keeping goes through baseball. In baseball, more than any other but wasn't sure if that meant golf course maintenance or sport, we can kind of manipulate how the game is played. landscape design. That all changed when Pritchard started From the speed, to the hardness of the dirt, the softness working for the football field crew. of the dirt in front of home plate — we can have a much "I worked a couple Saturday mornings in Neyland Stadium greater impact on the style of game each coach plays." and quickly found out this is what I wanted do." Pritchard said competition is not just for the teams. His Now that he's in Charlottesville, Pritchard hasn't lost his crew competes with other turf management crews, and Saturday morning love. they feel they are part of the team on the field, as well. "My favorite thing is go into Scott Stadium on a Saturday "Ultimately, what we all want to do is win championships," morning, when the field is all done and nobody is in the Pritchard said. "All the sports turf managers all know each stadium, before the teams chew up the grass and just soak it all in. I'm not sure I have a favorite sport to work, but that other, and we're always trying to one-up each other, we're always looking at everybody's fields on TV, and we all want may well be one of my favorite moments." Fans see the finished product, but most have little under- to provide the best for our customers. "If we can provide a surface that in any way helps to prostanding of the hours of labor needed daily to maintain and manage the upkeep of the playing surfaces on the Grounds. vide those championships, then that's the best." — Greg Waters That includes the new synthetic turfs, as well.