From Local Fields to Global Stage: Brentsville's World Cup Journey

WHO:

Prince William Living - Julie Kessler, Brentsville Turf Toro Grounds Academy alumna

Prince William Living - Zach Sedmak, Brentsville Turf Toro Grounds Academy alumnus

Prince William Living - Logan Smallwood, Brentsville Turf Toro Grounds Academy alumnus

Prince William Living - Dr. Drew Miller, Brentsville Turf Toro Grounds Academy director

Prince William Living - Travis Hogan, head groundskeeper for the Kansas City Chiefs

WHAT:

Prince William Living - Alumni of the Brentsville Turf Toro Grounds Academy worked on fields for the FIFA World Cup.

Prince William Living - Boston Stadium hosted seven World Cup matches, including a quarterfinal between France and Morocco.

WHERE:

Prince William Living - Kansas City Current Training Facility, host to the Netherlands team.

Prince William Living - Boston Stadium.

WHY:

Prince William Living - The World Cup is described as an event that brings communities together from different parts of the world.

Prince William Living - The training at Brentsville District High School prepares students for professional opportunities in the turf management industry.

HOW:

Prince William Living - Alumni utilized skills developed in the Brentsville Turf Toro Grounds Academy to maintain professional-level playing surfaces.

Prince William Living - Zach Sedmak mentioned that his experiences prepared him for maintaining fields under demanding schedules and high expectations.

(UPDATED July 25, 2026 01:29 UTC)

Alumni from the Brentsville Turf Toro Grounds Academy, including Julie Kessler, Zach Sedmak, Logan Smallwood, and their director Dr. Drew Miller, played a key role in maintaining the fields for the FIFA World Cup, which took place at Boston Stadium, where seven matches were held, including a quarterfinal between France and Morocco. The Kansas City Current Training Facility also served as a host for the Netherlands team, showcasing the global nature of the event that unites communities from around the world. Zach Sedmak highlighted how the rigorous training at Brentsville prepared him and his fellow alumni to meet the demanding expectations of maintaining professional-level playing surfaces during such a prestigious tournament.