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G.e. TrivettBy Bob Tracinski

Tucked in the foothills ofthe BlueRidge Mountains of westernNorth Carolina is M.S. Deal

Stadium, the pride of the small town ofGranite Falls. The stadium was built inthe early 1940s,and the originalfieldcon-sisted of two to three feet ofnative soil,mostly hard-packed clay, over a pile ofold granite rock. Initially, the stadium,field and school building formed thehigh school campus. In 1977, a newhigh school was built, and the facilitybecame a middle school.

G.C. Trivett joined the Granite FallsMiddle School staff that year, freshfrom earning his degree in Health andPhysical Education at Appalachian StateUniversity, as a physical educationteacher, head football coachand athleticdirector. Groundskeeping was not partofhis job or high on his list ofpriorities.The school's custodial staff mowed thebermudagrass field with a Bushhog.

The field was superior to the otherschool-relatedfieldsin the area. "Althoughwe had a skinned infield and no formalfield maintenance program, the fieldhosted the 1982 state baseball champi-onship," Trivett recalls.

The fieldis used for baseball practicesand games, softball practices and games,soccer practices and games, footballpractices and games, physical educa-tion classes and community sports pro-grams. The school's baseball seasonbegins February 15 and, with Legiongames, the high school's tournamentand the playoffs, could continue intomid-August,wrapping up just in time forfootballpractice to begin. In addition, thefield has hosted a state baseball cham-pionship, two state American Legionchampionships, two Region 10NationalJunior College championships, numer-ous DivisionI collegebaseball games andseveral high school tournaments.

Granite Falls lies just within thetransition zone;30 miles to the northwest

28 sports TURF

only cool-season grasses will survive.Thoughwinter doesbring somesnowanda fewsub-zerodays,winter temperaturesaverage about 50 degrees, generallyallowing year-round field use.

Trivett strives to do the best job pos-sible. He is constantly learning, improv-ing his skills,and lookingfora better wayto do things. He readily admits that,even when calling on all availableresources, trial and error are a big partof this process. "Frequently, my bestteacher has been my ownbad experiencefrom trying something the first time,"he relates.

His interest in field conditions devel-oped from his desire for safe playingsurfaces that allow all players to makethe most of their potential. At first, heinitiated small changes. The mowingmoved from a Bushhog to a flail mowerto a rotary mower, and field conditionsimproved.

In 1983, an inspection team for theschooldistrict condemnedthe polesoftheold lighting system and decided that amiddle schooldidn't really need a light-ed field. "Those were fighting words,"Trivett notes. "A few individuals gotthe ball rolling, and it spread through-out the town.Througha concentratedbuthighly informal process of donationsand fundraising activities, the commu-

Head groundskeeper G.C.Trivetttakes the same care with pre-gamepreparations of the skinned areas asany minor league team would.

nity came up with the $43,000needed injust two months. The new lightingsystem was installed in 1983."Learning From Others

In 1986Trivett attended a seminar onathletic-field management given by Dr.Ed Kajihiro. He immediately joined theSTMA and began reading all he couldregarding sports turf management. Heattended as many field-maintenanceseminars as his time and budget wouldallow. "I was especially motivated byFloydPerry's seminar at BaseballCityinOrlando, FL, in 1991," says Trivett."Seeing the facility,the qualityofthe fields,and how much money went into theequipmentandbudgetwas likea challengefor me. I wanted to do it right and knewwith the big spirit ofour little communitywe'd find a way to accomplish it."

Also in 1991,Trivett became a mem-ber ofthe ProfessionalGrounds Manage-ment Society (PGMS) and has sincebecome the national organization's 43rdcertified grounds manager. "Goingthrough the program and achieving thecertification was well worth the effort,"Trivett says.Trivett also is a certifiedpes-

Most of the football field lies within the baseball outfield area. The sideline ofthe football field almost touches the grass at second base, and the skinnedbasepath between second and third bases lies just within the football field.

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ticide applicator and a member ofthe NCTurfgrass Council and the SouthernTurfgrass Association. Recently he hasspoken at several seminars, helpingothers find a way to improve their fields.InFebruary 1994,FloydPerry helda sem-inar at M.S. Deal Field.

Trivett says, "I came into this know-ing nothingabout fieldcarebut foundthatall the resources are there just waitingto be tapped. The key is going after thatinformation- reading the magazinesandassociation publications, going to theseminars, and not being shy about ask- r------------------------ _

ing questions and seeking advice, inperson and by phone. Then, after gath-ering the information, you need to workthrough it and put it to use in a formthatfits your needs."

As Trivett learned the principlesofaer-ation, fertilization and pest control,those maintenance practices became anintegral part ofhis fieldmaintenance pro-gram. An initial soil test revealed littleorganic matter and several deficiencies.Composted sawdust was added as anorganic source. Each year's fertiliza-tion program was adapted to specificneeds. P and K ratios and organic con-tent are now regularly in the accep-table range.Equipment on a Budget

Equipment was a high priority, butTrivett recalls that the budget waspretty slim. ''Webegan to acquire the nec-essary equipment, such as aerators,sprayers and mowers, through theprocess of creative begging," he admits."It wasn't quite that bad, but we didcall golfcourses,schools,collegesand any-one else who could help with equipmentto set up a borrowing or short-termrental situation."

Trivett looks for equipment thatdoesn't stress his budget yet can meet spe-cificneeds, improve field conditions andincrease efficiency. "We put out theword that we were looking for usedequipment that couldbe refurbished," heexplains. "We purchased our triplexreel mower from a local golf course. It'snow 23 years old. Ijust made a 14-hourround trip to pick up a used bunkerrake. 1took it in for repairs, replaced thesand rake with an infield drag, and itworks great. We also entered a joint-purchase, split-use arrangement withtwo other schools on some new equip-ment, including our sprayer with a20-foot-boom."

Trivett's assistant Bronce Baker han-dles the lion's share of the mowing and

an assortment of other tasks as neces-sary. Trivett says, ''Baker is dedicated tothis fieldand doingthings right. His assis-tance has allowedus tomoveup onemorenotch in our maintenance program."

Trivett is the first to note that the roadto success has not been trouble-free.For example, in the fall of 1986he over-seededthe Tifway419bermudagrassfieldwith a cool-seasongrass for added colorand cushioning. Unfortunately, he usedK-31fescue. "I didn't know any better at

the time," he says. Now, nine yearslater, he has almost made the transitionback to 100percent bermudagrass. "Ihadto do it gradually, with maintenancepractices that favored the bermuda-grass,becausethe fescuetookholdsowell,wiping it out at once would have dev-astated the field."

Trivett spurred the purchase of anautomatic irrigation system using Toro670 heads that was both workable and

continued on page 30

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Trivettcontinued from page 29

affordable. Funds for the project were raised by selling adver-tising space on the eight-foot block outfield wall. Trivett takesa little time at the start of each season to drop in on past adver-tisers and sell the space for another year. The 35 to 40 ads cur-rently bring in $150 each. Trivett and a group of volunteers didthe installation. While a few areas needed a second try witha little more glue on the joints, the end result was great.

Most of Trivett's efforts have met with success. In 1990, theskinned infield was sodded with Tifway 419 bermudagrass.Again Trivett used a volunteer crew with no previousexperience, this time with no glitches. Laying sod greenside up is a lot easier than installing irrigation pipe andsprinkler heads.

Next came the warning-track installation. Trivett used atwo-to-three inch layer oflocal gray granite rock dust on topof an area that he had treated with glyphosate to removevegetation. The track is 15 feet wide in the outfield and tenfeet wide along the sidelines. It also happens to be exactly aquarter-mile around, making it great for physical educationclasses, track and recreation for local exercise fans.

Maintenance PracticesWith 350 students on some part of the field nearly every

school day and all the after-school and community activities,the field has little, if any, downtime. Trivett has developedan aggressive maintenance program to keep the field in topshape. He core aerates once a month from May to September,

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using a double pass on the entire field and adding a seconddouble pass in high-use areas. The cores are dragged back infor topdressing. Additional topdressing material, includingcalcined clay, sand and a more porous soil are incorporatedwhen time and funds allow it.

"We've reached a fairly decent percolation rate through thisprogram," says Trivett. "Generally we can take a two-inch rainand still play within two hours, but when this heavy soil becomessaturated, water infiltration is very slow. We've used 21bags of calcined clay during this spring's rains, but wehaven't missed a game."

Annual soil tests form the basis for the fertilization pro-gram. Trivett applies a 10-10-10 fertilizer at the rate of750pounds per acre in the early spring. Monthly application of34-0-0 begins in June. Overseeding with the PhD blend of peren-nial ryegrasses takes place in October, timed to coincidewith optimum weather conditions.

Using a reel mower at alternating right angles creates acheckerboard pattern, and during the football season, mow-ing direction is alternated every five yards to create a light-dark striping. The field is kept at a 3/4-inch height, with theoutfield cut at least three times a week and the infield daily- twice on game days.

Trivett changed the management program slightly toaccommodate this season's extremely wet weather. ''We suredidn't run the irrigation system in June," he notes. "We hadto use the rotary mower at one point to cut the grass short enoughfor the reel mower to handle. We then began mowing the out-field every day and the infield twice a day just to keep up."

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices dictate pestcontrol. Trivett says, "So far, we've only had to contend withgrubs once or twice. We've had a few problems with clover andchickweed, and are using a three-way formula to controlthem. We've had to treat for crabgrass occasionally. We usea handheld tank sprayer filled with glyphosate to spot treatany weeds that crop up in the warning track."

Trivett takes the same care with pre-game preparationsof the skinned areas as any minor league team. ''We nail dragtwo or three times a year," he notes. "I use the mat drag beforeeach game, then again after the infield practices when Ireset the bases." Trivett also mat drags once more andchanges the bases again after the fifth inning. "Our greatestwear comes during girl's softball in the fall," he says. ''The bases~~st be moved in to attain the regulation size. Second baseISill the grass, and the grassed sections by first and third baseget heavy wear. These areas generally need resodding at leastonce during and after the season."

Excessive wear is avoided by rotating practice sessions anddrills for various sports along with PE class workouts.~ootball drill sites are moved each day. Soccer goals areSImulated with strategically-placed cones to avoid wearwithin the actual goal mouth.

Trivett has enough space in the baseball outfield to turnt~e. f?otball-soccer field at an angle to the baseball field,limiting wear on the infield. The football sideline closest toth~ stands almost touches the grass at second base and theskinned basepath between second and third bases lies just with-in the football field. The grassed baseball outfield thenbecomes the rest of the football-soccer field.

~e pile of granite rock below the field creates a unique fieldmaintenance situation for Trivett. "We hit granite when we

continued on page 33

Trivettcontinued from page 30

installed the lighting system, and even atwo-inch nail drag used in the infieldwill bring some rocks to the surface,"he explains. "Since that's one condition wecan't change, we've just made rock removala part of our maintenance program."

Community SupportHow does Trivett get all this done and

fit in his full load of teaching, coachingand athletic director duties? "I told theBooster Club and community support-ers that Bronce and I would do the fieldplanning and work. They had to doeverything else. The community tookit to heart.

"The Booster Club even runs theconcession stands for all activities, notjust the school-related ones. Allproceeds are channeled back into theathletic department," he explains. ''Theypay for the equipment and uniforms,make up the major portion of ouroperating budget, and even made it pos-sible to build the concession and pressbox building."

Trivett's family is his personalbooster club. His wife Karen is aphysical education teacher and headbasketball coach at one of the county highschools. His son Cory, who will be ahigh school senior, participates inboth track and basketball, and hisfuture plans include teaching PE andcoaching. Trivett says, "I couldn't doany of this without their cooperationwith the hectic schedule and theirenthusiasm for what we've been ableto accomplish."

How far has M.S. Deal Stadium comesince 1986? The Chicago White Soxsingle-A team, the Hickory Crawdads,had chosen the field as a backup sitefor play if their own stadium had notbeen completed by the start of theseason.

"There's no need to have a middleclass facility for a middle school,"notes Trivett. "If you have the dream andthe commitment, you'll find the neces-sary knowledge and support waitingfor you." 0

Bob Tracinski is the manager ofcommunications for the John DeereCompany in Raleigh, NC, and publicrelations co-chair for the nationalSports Turf Managers Association.

HAPPENINGS--------------- T ---------------

West Coast TurfExpands Operations

West Coast Turf of Palm Desert, CA,recently acquired the assets of Warren'sTurf of Winchester, CA. Warren's Turfwas established in 1938 by Ben Warrenand was instrumental in the early devel-opment of sod farms and sod harvestingequipment. The 200 acres in Winchesterfeature three types of hybrid bermuda,as well as St. Augustine and tall fescue.This acquisition continues the company'sexpansion, which has included the 1994purchase of Foster Turf Products and theopening of a facility in Las Vegas, NV.

PGMSOffersCorporate Membership

A new company-membership levelwas recently inaugurated by theProfessional Grounds MaintenanceSociety. Until now, membership wasrestricted to individual groundskeep-ing professionals. Company member-ship dues are $350 per year, whichincludes up to four full individual PGMSmemberships; first opportunity for spon-soring a PGMS Conference, publica-tions or other program elements; a freehalf-page advertisement per year in thePGMS Forum;and a listing as a companymember in the PGMS MembershipDirectory.

The 1995 edition of the directory,Who's Who in Grounds Management,is now available. The 80-page book is freeto members and $38 to nonmembers.(Maryland residents add $1.90 salestax.) To order, write to: PGMS, 120Cockeysville Rd., Suite 104, Hunt Valley,MD 21030. Payment must be includedwith .order. Visa and MasterCard accept-ed. For more information, call (410)584-9754. Fax: (410) 574-9756.

Rain Bird AnnouncesPersonnel Changes

Kevin Gordon was recently promotedby Rain Bird Sales Inc. of Tucson, AZ, toproduct manager. He will relocate tothe company's facility in San Diego,CA, from Denver, CO, where he waspreviously the district sales managerfor the Rocky Mountain states. Gordon

is a member of the Montana Associationof Nurserymen, Associated LandscapeContractors of Colorado and the AmericanSociety of Landscape Architects. Heearned a bachelor of arts degree fromSouthern Illinois University and anMBA from the University of Colorado.

Rain Bird Sprinkler ManufacturingCo. is headquartered in Glendora, CA.

Seed CompanyNamed Official Supplier

Seed Research of Oregon, Inc., inCorvallis reached an agreement withSMA Services Corp., a subsidiary of theStadium Managers Association, to becomeits official seed supplier. The list of SMAstadiums includes such big names asYankee Stadium, New York; Mile HighStadium, Denver, CO; R.F.K. Stadium,Washington, DC; Soldier Field andWrigley Field, Chicago, IL; andCandlestick Park, San Francisco, CA.

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