---
title: UMD Soil Judgers Take Top Honors at International Competition
date: 2026-06-12T16:25:00-04:00
author: Ella LaGrange
canonical_url: "https://forward.umd.edu/news/umd-soil-judgers-take-top-honors-at-international-competition"
section: News
---
# UMD Soil Judgers Take Top Honors at International Competition

*June 12, 2026* — by Ella LaGrange
> Members of the University of Maryland Soil Judging Team Have Continued the School's Competitive Success, this Time on the International Stage

<span>Environmental Science &amp; Technology’s Zie Goodman and Cole Chapman helped Team USA Stripes capture the World Championship at the 5th International Soil Judging Contest in China.</span>  
  
<span>The championship squad, made up of students from the University of Maryland and Virginia Tech, earned the highest overall score based on both group and individual rounds. Goodman and Chapman also placed among the top 10 competitors individually.</span>

- [Meet the Soil Judgers](https://agnr.umd.edu/news/umd-soil-judgers-take-top-honors-international-competition/)