High school students from around Florida competed in the Florida State Turfgrass Competition on Wednesday at the 2026 GCSAA Conference and Trade Show in Orlando.Photo by Darrell J. Pehr
High school students from around Florida showed their knowledge of golf course turfgrass care and maintenance during the Florida State Turfgrass Science Competition Wednesday at GCSAA’s Conference and Trade Show in Orlando. Winning the team competition was South Fork High School (Stuart, Fla.), with team members Alejandro Garcia, William Gaspar, Giovanni Perez and Joshua Sejour competing.
The top individual score was posted by Andrew Rice of Horizon High School (Winter Garden, Fla.).
Students competed in a written test at the Orange County Convention Center Wednesday morning, followed by a practicum at Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course that included skills such as taking soil moisture readings, identifying plants and equipment, and cutting cups on a putting green.
Rice was a member of the second-place team along with team members Nicholas Dalchand, Lincoln Spallino and Zachary Woodcock. Third place went to Belleview High School (Belleview, Fla.) with team members James Heide-Harrison, Declan Nadeau, Tucker Slone and Addison Torres.
Eight teams competed representing five schools (with South Fork High School sending three teams and South Sumter High School sending two teams), which included 30 student competitors. Also competing were:
- South Fork High School, Henry Perez, Johnathan Perez, Junior Santo-Diego and Henry Torres
- South Fork High School, Brennan Baker, Aiden Burrage, Luke Sanderson and Carter Vanmoorhen
- South Sumter High School (Bushnell, Fla.), Bryson Collins, Lane Davis, Konor Deeson and Wyatt Phillips
- South Sumter High School exhibition team, Olivia Davenport and Cameron Yueling
Umatilla High School (Umatilla, Fla.), Aiden Edwin, Connor Fornera, Madison Kerr and Shawn Kilpatrick
Last year, GCSAA hosted the first-ever National Turfgrass Science Invitational at the 2025 GCSAA Conference and Trade Show in San Diego. This year’s national competition was hosted last month during the national meeting of the Sports Field Management Association in Fort Worth, Texas. In 2027, the national competition alternates back to the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show, in New Orleans.
GCSAA staff and members helped organize and judge the event, including several Excel Leadership Program members as well as GCSAA First Green and Workforce Development Committee members. They included Mike Bednar, Jennifer Bryan, Tim Busek, Ralph Dain, Timothy Davis, Jordan Diede, Eric Dixon, Kevin Doyle, Clinton Edger, Peyton Edwards, Mark Kann, Carson Letot, Jacob Martens, Merry Mott, David Phipps, Elliott Pope, Ron Prescott, Tyler Robb, Randy Robinson, Heather Russo, Rob Uzar, John Walker and Nate Watkin.
Darrell J. Pehr is GCM's science editor