Head Groundskeeper Noel Brusius to accept award December 16 in Lemont
By Nathan Baliva / Peoria Chiefs
"This is an outstanding honor for us, Noel and the field," said Chiefs President Rocky Vonachen. "Our field has a lot of usage over the year between Chiefs, Bradley and high school games. To win this award shows the knowledge and dedication Noel has to his profession and our field. It is a great honor for him and his crew."
In addition to the Chiefs playing 70 games of Midwest League baseball at O'Brien Field, the stadium is also home to the Bradley Braves baseball team, various high school games and non-baseball events. Between March 24 and October 17, 2009, O'Brien Field hosted 195 events in 209 days. This included 72 Chiefs games and three practices, 30 Bradley games and 61 practices, 23 high school games and 18 other events including softball games, corporate batting practice outings, post-game concerts and the annual Chiefs Fan Fest. The 195 on-field events represent a seven percent increase over the same time frame during the 2008 season.
Brusius just completed his second season with the Chiefs in a career that has included stops with the St. Paul Saints and Detroit Tigers. A 2003 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Brusius also earned an A.S. in Sports Turf Management from Anoka-Hennepin in 2006. After five years with the Sports/Athletic Field Maintenance for the Oshkosh Area School District in Wisconsin, Brusius took his first job in baseball with the St. Paul Saints as a Grounds Crew Intern during the 2005 season. After one year in Minnesota, he moved on to the Detroit Tigers as a full-time Grounds Crew member for the 2006 and 2007 seasons at Comerica Park. Brusius was hired as the Chiefs Head Groundskeeper in February 2008 and manages a crew that includes seven other workers, one full-time, two interns and four event-only employees.
"Being recognized by the ILSTMA for all of our hard work and dedication is truly a great honor and distinction to everyone that has played a role," said Brusius. "Personally I would like to thank all of my previous and current employers and staff members for the tremendous effort it takes to garnish an accomplishment of this magnitude. In addition, a special thanks to our partners at Birkey's Turf equipment and Spring Green Lawn Care and to the ILSTMA for all the services they provide."
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.
