MPRB presents Youth Sportsmanship and Most Improved Player Awards

MPRB presents Youth Sportsmanship and Most Improved Player Awards

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) presented awards to six neighborhood park youth coaches and their teams and to three individuals at the January 22 Board of Commissioners meeting. The awards were given in recognition of achievements during the MPRB’s fall youth sports season, which ended in November.

The 2013 Fall Youth Sportsmanship Award was presented to the following coaches and teams: Logan Storm – 10U football; Waite Wildcats – 12U football; Folwell Lions – 14U football; Nokomis Moyer – 15U volleyball; Bottineau Badgers – 13U soccer, and Armatage Kenny United – 11U soccer. The teams were chosen from among more than 200 MPRB fall football, volleyball and soccer youth sports teams for demonstrating exemplary sportsmanship throughout the fall 2013 season. Each winning team was recognized for its players’ outstanding display of positive attitudes, commitment, dedication, overcoming adversity and persistence. Coaches were recognized for being positive role models, loyal to the program, emphasizing team work, demonstrating strong work ethic and passion and engaging players and parents to have fun.

The Sandy Peterson Most Improved Player Award was presented to one girl from each age division. The award was presented to: Makenzie O’Connell, 11U – VanCleve Vipers; Ella Butler, 13U – Lynnhurst Leprechauns; and Kelly McNamer, 15U – Kenny Lightning. The award, consisting of a special trophy and jersey, is funded through a new memorial fund honoring, and in memory of, Peterson, a 30 year MPRB employee. Peterson ultimately became the first female director of the MPRB’s Youth Sports Department. It was Peterson’s dedication and commitment to MPRB girls’ athletics that helped paved the way for today’s young female athletes and earned her a number of awards for her outstanding work along the way. Players were nominated by their coaches and nominations were selected by a committee consisting of Peterson’s MPRB colleagues: Jeff Wells, Eileen Kilpatrick, Karyle Hanson and Mary Witek.

2013 Youth Football Sportsmanship Awards

10U: Logan Storm

12U: Waite Wildcats

14U: Folwell Lions

15U Open: Nokomis Moyer

2013 Youth Soccer Sportsmanship Awards

13U Open: Bottineau Badgers

11U Girls: Armatage Kenny United

2013 Youth Volleyball Sandy Peterson Most Improved Player Awards

Makenzie O’Connell – 11U: VanCleve Vipers 
Ella Butler – 13U: Lynnhurst Leprechauns 
Kelly McNamer – 15U: Kenny Lightning

Youth sports awards are presented annually by the MPRB athletics staff for fall/winter sports and spring/summer sports.

More than 6,000 youth participate in sports programs and countless organized groups and other neighborhood youth use MPRB sports facilities and athletic fields. Annually, more than 900 volunteer coaches devote their time and leadership to MPRB youth sports. With 197 park properties totaling nearly 6,744 acres of land and water, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board provides places and recreation opportunities for all people to gather, celebrate, contemplate, and engage in activities that promote health, well-being, community, and the environment.

For more information about MPRB youth sports, visit the MPRB youth sports page or contact your local recreation center.

Contact

Dawn Sommers 
Marketing and Communications Manager 
Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board 
Office: 612-230-6407 
Cell: 612-221-9155 
dsommers@minneapolisparks.org