In a strong showing, the Maryland Soil Judging Team took 3rd place out of 25 competitive teams.
The University of Maryland's 2025 Soil Judging Team in one of their soil pits at the national competition.
Image Credit: Spencer Goldberg
The Maryland Soil Judging Team took 3rd place out of 25 competing schools at the 2025 National Soil Judging contest hosted by the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point. The Terps took 10th place in group judging and consistently performed well across the events. Out of 108 competitors in the individual contest, Terps placed 15th (Ellie Rogers), 21st (a tie between Cole Chapman and Drew Weiss), and 38th (Nicko Kioutas). Kelsey Genovese led the way in the alternates contest, taking 9th out of 93 competitors. Emily O’Neill, Zie Goodman, Hannah Moore, and Spencer Goldberg also placed in the top 35. Additional team members were Noah Chang, Sage Grenier, Tyler Demory, Tyler Paris, and Emma Price. The team was coached by Dr. Brian Needelman from the Department of Environmental Science and Technology (ENST), assisted by player-coach and current M.S. student Nicko Kioutas.
To “judge” a soil, students spend one hour in a 5-foot-deep pit describing the characteristics of the various layers that have developed in the soil, the soil’s ability to transmit and retain water and support roots, the geological history of the site, the long-term processes of soil development, the classification of the soil, and the potential challenges of using the soil for various land uses. Students are then scored on the accuracy of their answers in comparison to a description done by a team of professional soil scientists.
Soil judging brings out many essential elements of career preparation that are difficult to replicate in a classroom. Soils in the field rarely match our textbook descriptions, they offer complications that confuse even the best soil scientists. Students are put into a high-pressure, high-stakes situation and must work both individually and collaboratively to tackle this complex problem. To succeed, students not only need to develop the skills to execute but the ability to function as a member of a team that can endure and thrive through long workdays, varying weather conditions, and all the challenges associated with fieldwork.
This year’s contest was held in Portage County, Wisconsin. The soils were formed in parent materials dominated by the glacial geology of the area, consisting of wind-blown loess, glacial outwash, glacial till, glacio-fluvial deposits, lake-deposited silts and clays, and human-transported materials. Students had the opportunity to see a wide array of soils in this complex and fascinating landscape.
Soil Judging is growing rapidly both nationally and globally. This contest set the record for the number of competing schools. The University of Idaho took first place, their first soil judging championship. The University of Delaware also represented the Mid-Atlantic region well, taking 2nd place overall and winning Group Judging. The contest was organized by Dr. Bryant Scharenbrach.
