For the fourth year in a row, the Thomas Dale High turf management program led by Bryan Sheetz won a Fields of Excellence Award for keeping school fields in top condition. Pioneer Athletics created the award in 1997 to recognize excellence in athletic field maintenance, which often goes unrecognized and unappreciated.
High schools, universities and parks departments from all over the United States submitted photographs, letters of recommendation and applications describing their field maintenance. A rigorous judging process yielded 94 winners from a large pool of applicants in 2026.