The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) presented the 2015 Spring/Summer Sportsmanship Awards to three neighborhood park sports coaches and their teams, and three individual youth at the Board of Commissioners meeting on November 4.
Teams were recognized for its players’ outstanding display of positive attitudes, commitment, dedication, persistence, and overcoming adversity. 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 2015 Spring/Summer Youth Sportsmanship Awards were presented to the athletes and coaches of the following teams: Corcoran Park – Track & Field, Lake Hiawatha Lakers – Softball, and PAL RBI – 10U Baseball.
The awarded teams were chosen from 159 youth sports teams of track and field, softball, and baseball for demonstrating exemplary sportsmanship throughout the spring and summer 2015 seasons.
The Sandy Peterson Most Improved Player Award was presented to one female athlete from each age division. The award is funded through a memorial fund honoring, and in memory of, Sandy Peterson, an MPRB employee of 30 years, retiring in 1999. Peterson ultimately became the first female director of the MPRB’s Youth Sports Department, and it was her 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.
The following athletes were presented with The Sandy Peterson Most Improved Player Award: Taleah Jones – Pershing/Linden Hills Park 10U, Sofie Edevold – Kenwood Park 12U, and Shanelle White – Bottineau Park 14U.
2015 Youth Sportsmanship Award Winners
Track & Field – Corcoran Park
Coach M’Angelo Harris
Front, left to right: Auvon Sager, Park Director Ryan Flanders, Moira Hazel, Madelyne Rendon, Matthew Whitlock, Montrel Bryant, Will Cornell, Andrew Amaya, Nico Amaya, Deshawn Sager, Dimitri Nair, Jacorey Jazzmere, Liana Whitlock, Miguel Abhiram, Jaden Scott, Serena Guerra, Catyia Dyar, Najai Dyar, Lily Carden, Zion Guerra, and Head Coach ML Harris
Back row: Commissioners Annie Young, Scott Vreeland, Jon Olson, Anita Tabb, John Erwin, President Liz Wielinski, Superintendent Jayne Miller, Brad Bourn, Steffanie Musich
Softball – Lake Hiawatha Lakers
Coach Patti Grube
Front, left to right: Avery Nitz, Coach Patti Grube, Kara Pickel-Bloom, Abby Altman, Lily Larson, Lily Balk, Erin Grube, Marta Branden, Lily Guindon, Ana Lesmeister, Ava Maly, Jiji Knudsen, Coach Cody Balk, Ava Beckett, Ryan Vossen
Back row: Commissioners Annie Young, Scott Vreeland, Jon Olson, Anita Tabb, John Erwin, President Liz Wielinski, Superintendent Jayne Miller, Brad Bourn, Steffanie Musich
Not pictured: Kerry McCabe, Kylee Blazina, Coach Jason Blazina
Baseball – PAL 10U RBI
Coach Michael Casey
Front, left to right: Khristian Davis, Avyn Hayes, Dondrell Ducker, Braquan Williams, Kerome Thompson, Jaheem Black, Amir Everett, Jasuan Barnes, Jaylen Hall
Middle, left to right: Monica Hanson, Julie Leerssen, Marshall Collier, Jaki Hurst-Williams, Dava Zappa, Chris Heihn, Tony Adams
Back row: Commissioners Annie Young, Scott Vreeland, Jon Olson, Anita Tabb, John Erwin, President Liz Wielinski, Superintendent Jayne Miller, Brad Bourn, Steffanie Musich
2015 Sandy Peterson Most Improved Player Award Winners
Taleah Jones – Pershing/Linden Hills Park 10U
Sofie Edevold – Kenwood Park 12U
Shanelle White – Bottineau Park 14U
Front, left to right: Karyle Hanson, Eileen Kilpatrick, Taleah Jones, Bruce Candlin, Marc Holtey, Sofie Edevold, Linda Stebor, Shanelle White, Scott Erazmus, Jeff Wells
Back row: Commissioners Annie Young, Scott Vreeland, Jon Olson, Anita Tabb, John Erwin, President Liz Wielinski, Superintendent Jayne Miller, Brad Bourn, Steffanie Musich
The following are excerpts from coaches on nomination forms.
Taleah Jones
Pershing/Linden Hills Park 10U
“When Taleah came to our first practice she had not played softball. She did not own a glove. I noticed she is a very quiet and shy person. She was hesitant in throwing a ball and slowly learned how to swing a bat. Her grandmother who had prior softball, baseball experience also worked with her in these activities. Slowly Taleah’s abilities improved. She began to throw the ball better and her hitting improved. I asked her to try out to be a pitcher and she was reluctant. Obviously she had never done this. She began practicing and took the softball home to work with her grandmother. She began pitching in our games. When she first pitched, I asked her how she felt. She said it was hard but did not say no when I asked her to pitch again. I know pitching in front of everyone was a real challenge for her.
Taleah has now become one of our two best pitchers. I know she will pitch well whenever asked. My other comment is she has never asked me to play a certain position or what order of the lineup she can bat. She never complains regardless of where she plays.
Taleah is still quiet. She is never boastful. I think her improvement over the season and her attitude makes her deserving of this Award.”
– Coach Bruce Candlin
Sofie Edevold
Kenwood Park 12U
“Sofie blossomed over the course of the season from a quiet player in the woodwork to a prominent and passionate leader for all of the Kenwood Timber players. She truly embodies all the positive aspects of softball: dedication, leadership, confidence, and positivity. For example, there was one practice where the girls were in 90-some degree weather and muggy rain. Whereas most were whining and looking forward to getting off the field, Sofie was enthusiastic and excited to play in the rain – announcing all the “pluses” of being outside playing. It’s this positive attitude that made her an ideal player for catcher.
Through hard work and open reception to coaching (and from what I hear, a lot of watching of NCAA softball on TV), Sofie transformed into a smart catcher. She would yell out where to go for outs/plays and was quick to understand the complexities of the game (both offensive and defensive), which is a huge benefit to have behind the plate. She even coined “The Sofie Shuffle,” which was a term for her quick footwork and watching of runners on third when she was behind the plate. Sofie is a player every coach dreams of having and I’m excited to see how she continues to grow in the sport and life. She will without a doubt continue to be a successful leader that pushes other players to reach their fullest potential – just like she did this season.”
– Coach Joy Hamilton
Shanelle White
Bottineau Park 14U
“Shanelle has been playing fast pitch with Bottineau for four years now and this year “it” has all come together for her in the areas of hitting, throwing, running and attitude. She always had a killer swing and now this year, she has been able to put that incredible swing to good use as her grounders are hard and fast and the line drives make the outfielders cringe. She has moved from last in the batting order to third batter – a move that the coaches have not regretted. She has quite an amazing arm which is why she is, hands down, our first pick to play third base. We can count on her to make the play at first as her throws are accurate and fast. As far as base running, she is a solid runner – does not slow down to watch the ball, does not have to be told to steal bases, and considering this is her first year encountering the dropped third strike rule, she has made the transition with ease. Because of her perseverance, she overcame prior year’s struggles which brought about an improved attitude. “It” all clicked for her this year as she is much more talkative, more willing to smile, much more helpful and an all-around good person. She is such a pleasure that we always look forward to her walking onto the field. She always has a greeting and a smile for the coaches. Overall, there has been lots of improvement from 2014 to 2015 and we think Shanelle should win the Most Improved Player award. Solid base running, hitting has improved ten-fold, throws have definitely Increased in accuracy and her attitude is positive and happy! Shanelle is definitely and asset to our team!”
– Coaches Linda Stebor, Kristi Carlson, and Marc Thompson
Youth Sportsmanship awards are presented by the MPRB athletics staff for fall/winter sports and spring/summer sports.
With 251 park properties totaling nearly 6,790 acres of parkland 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.