Skip to main content
James Thompson, PhD
Professor of Soil Science
Davis College
WVU Home

WVU Soils Team History

WVU has competed in the Southeastern Regional Soil Judging Contest since the late 1960s. Since then, there have been five coaches. The WVU Soils Team started competing in 1967 with Dr. Carl Ingle as coach. In 1969, both Dr. Ingle and Dr. Richard M. Smith were the coaches. Dr. Smith coached the Team from 1970 through 1977. Dr. John Sencindiver was coach from 1978 through 2003, except for 1993. In 1993, Dr. Sencindiver was the Interim Director of the Division of Plant and Soil Sciences and Dr. Jim Gorman coached the Team. In 2004, Dr. James Thompson assisted Dr. Sencindiver. Dr. Thompson took over the coaching duties in 2005.

Success at the Southeast Regional Collegiate Soils Contest

Since 1967, the WVU Soils Team has won the Southeast Regional Collegiate Soils Contest five times and placed in the top five 23 times.

  • 2015: Fifth Place Team at Murray State University
  • 2015: Ninth Place Individual (Riley Biddle) at Murray State University
  • 2014: Second Place Team at Clemson University
  • 2014: Second Place Individual (Adrienne Nottingham) at Clemson University
  • 2014: Seventh Place Individual (Caleb Griffin) at Clemson University
  • 2013: First Place Team at Tennessee Technological University
  • 2013: Second Place Individual (Caleb Griffin) at Tennessee Tech
  • 2013: Third Place Individual (Nick Beaver) at Tennessee Tech
  • 2013: Fifth Place Individual (Adrienne Nottingham) at Tennessee Tech
  • 2013: Sixth Place Individual (Emily Wells) at Tennessee Tech
  • 2013: Ninth Place Individual (Becca Swope) at Tennessee Tech
  • 2012: Third Place Team at University of Kentucky
  • 2012: Sixth Place Individual (Adrienne Nottingham) at University of Kentucky
  • 2010: Second Place Team at University of Georgia
  • 2010: Fifth Place Individual (Sarah Taylor) at University of Georgia
  • 2010: Sixth Place Individual (TJ Montgomery) at University of Georgia
  • 2009: First Place Team at University of Tennessee-Knoxville
  • 2009: Second Place Individual (Josh Hall) at UT-Knoxville
  • 2009: Third Place Individual (Chris Orndorff) at UT-Knoxville
  • 2009: Fourth Place Individual (Sarah Taylor) at UT-Knoxville
  • 2009: Seventh Place Individual (Katey Buckland) at UT-Knoxville
  • 2007: Third Place Team at Eastern Kentucky University
  • 2007: Ninth Place Individual (Kent Smith) at Eastern Kentucky
  • 2007: Tenth Place Individual (Rachelle Thorne) at Eastern Kentucky
  • 2006: Fifth Place Team at Western Kentucky University
  • 2006: Sixth Place Individual (Justin Barnes) at Western Kentucky
  • 2006: Seventh Place Individual (Kent Smith) at Western Kentucky
  • 2005: Fifth Place Team at North Carolina State University
  • 2005: Eighth Place Individual (Corry Calderone) at NC State
  • 2005: Tenth Place Individual (Jared Wilmoth) at NC State
  • 2002: Ninth Place Individual (Dustin Adkins) at Clemson University
  • 1999: Fifth Place Team at University of Kentucky
  • 1999: Third Place Individual (Jamie Schnably) at University of Kentucky
  • 1999: Fifth Place Individual (Kyle Stephens) at University of Kentucky
  • 1993: Fourth Place Individual (Robert Weaver) at NC State University
  • 1992: Third Place Team at University of Tennessee-Martin
  • 1992: Third Place Individual (Jason Teets) at UT-Martin
  • 1992: Fourth Place Individual (Donna Haggerty) at UT-Martin
  • 1990: Fifth Place Team at Murray State Univeristy
  • 1990: Fifth Place Individual (Scott Hoover) at Murray State Univeristy
  • 1989: Third Place Team at Clemson University
  • 1989: First Place Individual (Steve Aberegg) at Clemson University
  • 1988: Fourth Place Team at University of Georgia
  • 1988: Third Place Individual (Steve Aberegg) at University of Georgia
  • 1986: Second Place Team at Tennessee Technological University
  • 1986: Second Place Individual (Peter Cagnetta) at Tennessee Tech
  • 1986: Fifth Place Individual (Ken Raines) at Tennessee Tech
  • 1986: Sixth Place Individual (Stephanic Gibas) at Tennessee Tech
  • 1984: Fifth Place Team at University of Tennessee-Knoxville
  • 1984: Third Place Individual (David Kingsbury) at UT-Knoxville
  • 1984: Seventh Place Individual (Rich Hayes) at UT-Knoxville
  • 1983: Second Place Team at Virginia Tech
  • 1983: Second Place Individual (Quintin Johnson) at Virginia Tech
  • 1983: Eighth Place Individual (Ray Carr) at Virginia Tech
  • 1981: First Place Team at Auburn University
  • 1981: Fourth Place Individual (Mike Dant) at Auburn University
  • 1981: Sixth Place Individual (Steve Moore) at Auburn University
  • 1981: Ninth Place Individual (Bill Effland) at Auburn University
  • 1978: Fifth Place Team at North Carolina State Univeristy
  • 1978: Sixth Place Individual (John Vandevender) at NC State
  • 1975: First Place Team at University of Tennessee-Knoxville
  • 1975: Second place Individual (Don Cattrell) at UT-Knoxville
  • 1975: Third place Individual (Eric Perry) at UT-Knoxville
  • 1975: Fourth place Individual (Sam Baldwin) at UT-Knoxville
  • 1973: Second Place Team at University of Kentucky
  • 1973: Second Place Individual (Dave Hall) at University of Kentucky
  • 1973: Ninth Place Individual (David Idleman) at University of Kentucky
  • 1972: Second Place Team at Auburn University
  • 1972: First Place Individual (Carlos Cole) at Auburn University
  • 1970: Second Place Team at North Carolina State University
  • 1970: Second Place Individual (John Sencindiver) at NC State
  • 1969: First Place Team at Tennessee Technological University
  • 1969: First Place Individual (Ronnie Taylor) at Tennessee Tech

Success at the National Collegiate Soils Contest

The WVU Soils Team finished in the top ten at the National Collegiate Soils Contest in seven of the last ten years, including one National Championship (2006). WVU hosted the National Collegiate Soils Contest in 2012.

  • 2016: First Place Team at Kansas State University
  • 2016: First Place Individual (Katie Stutler) at Kansas State University
  • 2015: Second Place Team at University of Arkansas at Monticello
  • 2015: Third Place Individual (Adrienne Nottingham) at University of Arkansas at Monticello
  • 2014: Tenth Place Team at Delaware Valley College
  • 2011: Seventh Place Team at Oregon State University
  • 2011: Second Place Group at Oregon State University
  • 2009: Third Place Team at Missouri State University
  • 2009: Fifth Place Group at Missouri State University
  • 2009: Eighth Place Individual (Sarah Taylor) at Missouri State Univeristy
  • 2008: Fifth Place Team at University of Rhode Island
  • 2008: Third Place Individual (Randy Riddle) at University of Rhode Island
  • 2007: Third Place Team at Utah State University
  • 2007: Second Place Individual (Corry Calderone) at Utah State University
  • 2007: Fourth Place Individual (Randy Riddle) at Utah State University
  • 2006: First Place Team at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo
  • 2006: First Place Individual (Corry Calderone) at Cal Poly-SLO
  • 2000: Fourth Place Team at University of Idaho
  • 2000: Second Place Individual (Kyle Stephens) at University of Idaho
  • 1993: Fourth Place Team at Oregon State University
  • 1993: Sixth Place Individual (Jason Teets) at Oregon State University
  • 1990: Seventh Place Individual (Scott Hoover) at Purdue University
  • 1989: Third Place Team at Tarleton State University
  • 1989: Second Place Individual (Steve Aberegg) at Tarleton State University

Distinguished Alumni

  • Dustin Adkins, Soil Conservationist, USDA-NRCS, Huntington, WV
  • Steve Baker, OH State Soil Scientist, USDA-NRCS, Columbus, OH
  • James “Skip” Bell, MLRA Soil Survey Project Leader, USDA-NRCS, Morgantown, WV
  • Katey (Buckland) Yoast, MLRA Soil Scientist, USDA-NRCS, Morgantown, WV
  • Steve Carpenter, WV State Soil Scientist and MLRA Region 13 Staff Leader (Retired), USDA-NRCS, Morgantown, WV
  • Ray Carr, District Conservationist, USDA-NRCS, White Hall, WV
  • Carlos Cole, Resource Soil Scientist, USDA-NRCS, Ripley, WV
  • Stephanie Connolly, Forest Soil Scientist, Monongahela National Forest, USDA-Forest Service, Elkins, WV
  • Brian Cooley, Soil Resource Specialist, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Marietta, OH
  • Bill Effland, Soil Scientist and Landscape Analyst, USDA-NRCS, Washington, DC
  • Sarah Fitzwater, Soil Conservationist, USDA-NRCS, Keyser, WV
  • Rich Hayes, Soil Scientist, NC Dep. of Environment and Natural Resources, Raleigh, NC
  • Scott Hoover, MLRA Soil Survey Project Leader, USDA-NRCS, Marietta, OH
  • David Kingsbury, WV State Soil Scientist and MLRA Region 13 Staff Leader, USDA-NRCS, Morgantown, WV
  • Roger Nestor, Extension Associate Professor, West Virginia University, Philippi, WV (Barbor County 4-H Land Judging Team Coach with two National Championships and two National Reserve Championships)
  • Issac Wolford, WV State Agronomist, USDA-NRCS, Morgantown, WV
  • Wendy Noll, Resource Inventory Specialist, USDA-NRCS, Morgantown, WV
  • Peg Reese, Resource Conservationist (Retired), USDA-NRCS, Morgantown, WV
  • Randy Riddle, MLRA Soil Scientist, USDA-NRCS, Carson, CA
  • Aron Sattler, MLRA Soil Scientist, USDA-NRCS, Abilene, TX
  • John Sencindiver, Emeritus Professor of Soil Science, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
  • B.J. Shoup, CO State Soil Scientist, USDA-NRCS, Lakewood, CO
  • Cara Sponaugle Farr, Forest Soil Scientist, Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, Kamiah, ID
  • Kelley Sponaugle, WV Assistant State Conservationist (Retired), USDA-NRCS
  • Kyle Stephens, MLRA Soil Survey Project Leader, USDA-NRCS, Spokane, WA
  • Ron Taylor, NJ State Soil Scientist (Retired), USDA-NRCS, Somerset, NJ
  • Sarah Taylor, Tracking & Reporting Specialist, West Virginia Department of Agriculture, Inwood, WV
  • Jason Teets, RC&D Coordinator, USDA-NRCS, Philippi, WV
  • Jeff Thomas, MLRA Soil Survey Project Leader, USDA-NRCS, Richmond, VA