Award-Winning Turf

The football field at Lubbers Stadium has won the Michigan Sports Turf Manager's Award for Athletic Field of the Year for 2003. Ken Stanton, grounds supervisor for Grand Valley said he's proud that he and his grounds crew are being recognized for their work. He said this season really put his crew to the test.

'The Lakers played the latest game of any football team in the state last December. It took us all spring and summer to ready the field for this fall,' he said.

In November, the Lakers played at home during three of their playoff games on their way to a second National Championship. Stanton said up to 50 students from the football and baseball teams helped drag a tarp on and off the field for these games. 'We would paint and prep the field and then put the tarp back on until game day. That's not easy to do with Michigan snow and wind,' he said.

This is the third award for the field. The Professional Grounds Management Society recognized the stadium with the Honor award in the Park, Recreation Area or Athletic Field Category. Grand Valley's grounds crew also received the Excellence in Maintenance Award sponsored by the National Institute on Parks and Grounds Management.