Good Sports Awards honor Wicomico’s players, coaches

SALISBURY, Md. – Players and coaches from 18 Wicomico County youth-based sports organizations were recognized at the inaugural Good Sports Awards on Wednesday, Jan. 31.

The Good Sports Awards honored community members who demonstrate the four core values supported by Wicomico County Recreation, Parks & Tourism: fun, community, sportsmanship and skill development.

Eligible youth-based sports organizations were invited to recognize one youth player and one coach who best demonstrate these core values. Representatives of these organizations could also make nominations for four additional awards.

Those awards were the Administrator of the Year, which went to Jared Willemin of Upward Sports; Official of the Year, which went to Mike Ingley of Fruitland Falcons; the Community Impact Award, which went to Doverdale Hawks Lacrosse; and the Lorne C. Rickert Lifetime Volunteer Award, which went to Norman Francis of East Wicomico Little League.

The award ceremony was held in the Midway Room of the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center and included a buffet dinner and silent auction.

“We were thrilled with the turnout for our inaugural Good Sports Awards,” said James Simmons, recreation superintendent for Wicomico County Recreation, Parks & Tourism. “It was a great night to recognize so many from around our community and bring everyone together who is doing great things in youth sports. The impact of sports in a child’s life can be tremendous and we wanted to really celebrate those who have been teaching life lessons through sports and those who have been learning those life lessons. We plan to make this an annual event and hope that it continues to grow and be a staple for our youth sports community.”

Congratulations to the winners listed above and the following Youth Sportsmanship Award and Outstanding Coach Award winners:

 

Youth Sportsmanship Award winners

·         Nathan Polkinghorn - Crown Sports Center

·         Amber Cooper - Delmar Little League

·         Lensky Saintil - Doverdale Hawks Lacrosse

·         John Smith – East Wicomico Little League

·         Brandon Vazquez – Fruitland Falcons

·         Ethan Hall – Fruitland Little League

·         Antwan Wilson – Kappa League

·         Casey Insley – Mardela Recreation Council

·         Kyle Tull – Pittsville Recreation Council

·         Petra Burgmann – Richard A. Henson Family YMCA

·         Cooper Johnston – Salisbury United Soccer Club

·         Jackson O’Neal – Sharptown Parks and Recreation Commission

·         Isaac Banks – Upward Sports

·         Charles Mann – West Salisbury Little League

·         Kurtis Thomas, Jr. – Westside Striders

·         Meah Jefferson – Wicomico County Recreation, Parks & Tourism

·         Riley Heberlig – Willards Little League

·         Will Premo – Wicomico Wolverine Youth Wrestling

Outstanding Coach Award winners

·         Rusty Brown - Crown Sports Center

·         Chris Powell - Delmar Little League

·         Noah White - Doverdale Hawks Lacrosse

·         Greg Hartman – East Wicomico Little League

·         Megan Block – Fruitland Falcons

·         Bobby Lewis – Fruitland Little League

·         Jermichael Mitchell – Kappa League

·         Sean Hupke – Mardela Recreation Council

·         Preston Schrier – Pittsville Recreation Council

·         Kameron Spencer – Richard A. Henson Family YMCA

·         Ryan Pusey – Salisbury United Soccer Club

·         Matthew Schneider – Sharptown Parks and Recreation Commission

·         Gene Adkins – Upward Sports

·         Robb Disbennett – West Salisbury Little League

·         Leslie Wright – Westside Striders

·         Mark Carroll – Wicomico County Recreation, Parks & Tourism

·         Randy Richardson – Willards Little League

·         Homer King – Wicomico Wolverine Youth Wrestling

For more information on the Good Sports Awards or Wicomico County Recreation, Parks & Tourism’s youth sports core values, visit www.WicomicoRecandParks.org.

Photos can be found at the following link (files are too large to email): https://app.box.com/s/syrkfd05y5zvqlmzj5ou68vxg1axyb6f

Please let me know if you have any trouble downloading them.

Photo Captions:

All photos are by Earl Campbell.

Administrator: Wicomico County Executive Bob Culver, left, poses with the Administrator of the Year, Jared Willemin of Upward Sports, during the Good Sports Awards at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center on Jan. 31.

Official: Wicomico County Executive Bob Culver, left, poses with the Official of the Year, Mike Ingley of Fruitland Falcons, during the Good Sports Awards at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center on Jan. 31.

Community Impact: A group from the Doverdale Hawks Lacrosse program poses with Wicomico County Executive Bob Culver, far left, after the program received the Community Impact Award at the Good Sports Awards, held Jan. 31 at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center.

Lorne C. Rickert Lifetime Volunteer: Wicomico County Executive Bob Culver, left, poses with the recipient of the Lorne C. Rickert Lifetime Volunteer Award, Norman Francis of East Wicomico Little League, during the Good Sports Awards at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center on Jan. 31.