MPRB presents Youth Sportsmanship and Most Improved Player Awards

Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board sent this bulletin at 01/30/2014 12:42 PM CST

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

Front row (left to right): MPRB Recreation Supervisor Heidi Miller, Thomas Minema, Aaron Ragan, Zatayveon Hawkins, Ezra Tijanni, Eliza Tijanni, Trevor Moppes-Jones and Coach Izreal Muhammad.

Back row (left to right): Commissioners Anita Tabb, Vice President Scott Vreeland, Annie Young, Jon Olson, President Liz Wielinski, John Erwin, Steffanie Musich, Brad Bourn, Superintendent Jayne Miller and Meg Forney.

12U: Waite Wildcats

Front row (left to right): MPRB Youth Programs Specialist Chad Collins, Coach John Solomon, Quintin Plotnick, Archer Bennington, Jason Shevchuk, Kevin Berkley, Jaden Hollman, Ayyub Wright, Soren Prose, Shaun Brozek, Coach Todd Bennington and Trenton Hanson.

Back row (left to right): Commissioners Anita Tabb, Vice President Scott Vreeland, Annie Young, Jon Olson, President Liz Wielinski, John Erwin, Brad Bourn, Steffanie Musich, Superintendent Jayne Miller and Meg Forney.

14U: Folwell Lions

Front row (left to right): MPRB Recreation Leader Jason Green, Coach Nico Rocque, Brian Gonnzlez, Nico Rocque Jr., Deionte' Robertson, Joshua Hodges, Derrick Johnson, Steven Hayes, Assistant Coach Gardell Sanford, Gardell Sanford III and Assistant Coach Michael Benham.

Back row (left to right): Commissioners Anita Tabb, Vice President Scott Vreeland, Annie Young, Jon Olson, John Erwin, President Liz Wielinski, Brad Bourn, Steffanie Musich, Superintendent Jayne Miller and Meg Forney.

2013 Youth Volleyball Sportsmanship Awards

15U Open: Nokomis Moyer

Front row (left to right): Coach Tracy Moyer, Elisia Moyer, Masha Fiedman, Sidney Erin Miller, Leah Wanek, Addie Scott and MPRB Recreation Supervisor Maggie Mercil.

Back row (left to right): Commissioners Anita Tabb, Vice President Scott Vreeland,Annie Young, John Erwin, Jon Olson, President Liz Wielinski, Brad Bourn, Steffanie Musich, Superintendent Jayne Miller and Meg Forney.

2013 Youth Soccer Sportsmanship Awards

13U Open: Bottineau Badgers

First row (left to right): Coach Kate Young, Mimane Jillo, Abdiaziz Ali, Jack Worley, Boone Worley and MPRB Recreation Supervisor Bob Ramphal.

Second row (left to right): Liban Mohamed, Raaya Jillo, Samuel Kelvie and Sevyn Silvernal.

Third row (left to right): Commissioners Anita Tabb, Vice President Scott Vreeland, Annie Young, John Erwin, Jon Olson, President Liz Wielinski, Brad Bourn, Steffanie Musich, Superintendent Jayne Miller and Meg Forney.

11U Girls: Armatage Kenny United

First row (left to right): Sydney Bispala, Sarah Larkin, Anna Gueldner, Gwen Lindberg and Rosey Vogan.

Second row (left to right): MPRB Recreation Leader Kris Stevens, Assistant Coach Greg Sapecky, Ella Sapecky, Abigail Kattreh-Kuritz, Jadyn Breitenbach, Sophia Green, Josie Veit and Coach Leigh Breitenbach.

Not pictured: Emauria Jones, Eva Schiltz and Katherine Hampton.

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

Front row (left to right): Jeff Wells, Kelly McNamer (15U: Kenny Lightning), Makenzie O’Connell (11U: VanCleve Vipers) and Ella Butler (13U: Lynnhurst Leprechauns), Eileen Patrick and Karyle Hanson.

Back row (left to right): Commissioners Anita Tabb, Vice President Scott Vreeland, Annie Young, John Erwin, President Liz Wielinski, Jon Olson, Brad Bourn, Steffanie Musich, Superintendent Jayne Miller and Meg Forney.

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.

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