Nov. 7, 2007

Fairfax, Va. (November 7, 2007) - The Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA) announced that George Mason University's Softball Complex has been selected as the 2007 College and University Softball Field of the Year. Mason's Director of Turf Management Josh McPherson will accept the award at the 19th annual STMA Conference and Exhibition on January 18th in Phoenix, Ariz.

"We are extremely proud to have the softball complex recognized with this award," said Athletic Director Tom O'Connor. "The honor validates the University and the athletic department's commitment to our students and is a fitting tribute to the turf crew, who has brought the field to award-winning status."

George Mason University has won two previous STMA Field of the Year Awards. The George Mason Stadium was honored for soccer in 2003 and Spuhler Field was named baseball's best in 2002. The STMA established the Field of the Year Awards in 1992 to recognize the outstanding fields and commitment to excellence of STMA members. Over the past 15 years, fields from every region of the country have been honored. The STMA Field of the Year Award represents a facility's pinnacle of achievement in the Sports Turf Industry.

"Each year STMA awards no more than 13 Fields of the Year, so a very small percentage of our members are winners," says Kim Heck, CEO of the Sports Turf Managers Association, the sponsoring organization of the award. "Josh McPherson and his crew are very deserving of this prestigious award for the George Mason Softball Complex."