Luke Werling is a first-year student at Kirkwood Community College, and he is studying horticulture sciences with a focus in athletic turf management. This summer, Werling is getting an extraordinary experience where he will be doing an internship with the Pittsburgh Pirates, a Major League Baseball team. There he will be working on the grounds crew.
Upon graduating from Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School in 2022, Werling worked in the trades and also spent time working for the City of Cedar Rapids. As time went on, he decided that he would rather do something as a career that fit his personalized passions more.
“I remember wanting to do something that piqued my interest,” Werling said. “Baseball was something I’ve always been interested in.”
While researching jobs that he could get in the sports world, Werling discovered turf management. So when searching for colleges he could attend for it, he was most attracted to Kirkwood.
“Specifically with the horticulture sciences, I found that Kirkwood had a very well-respected program. That’s why I chose Kirkwood,” stated Werling. “Everybody in the horticulture building is very supportive. They want you to succeed. They want you to thrive in this industry.”
With the support from staff and access to a website that sends résumés to sports teams, Werling was able to snag an internship with the Pirates.
Shawna Moss, horticulture professor, gave high praise to Werling: “When a Kirkwood student earns an internship with a Major League Baseball team like the Pittsburgh Pirates, it validates the strength of our entire program, she said”
Only five students were selected from across the nation for the internship, with the other interns coming from Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Missouri. They will begin in mid-April and stay until August, when classes start back up.
While the internship is with the Pirates, they have a partnership with the Pittsburgh Steelers, so that interns can get experience with the MLB, NFL and NCAA.
He is currently working at Triple Play Park in Cedar Rapids, where he is the turf assistant. His role there is to help manage six fields’ dirt infields and grass outfields.
Werling is keeping his eyes set on the future, where his future aspirations are to be a director of field operations at a minor or major league stadium.
“MLB teams aren’t just selecting technical ability They’re selecting culture fit,” said Moss. “(Luke) showed them he would represent their organization well.”
Categories: Sports
