For more information, contact:
The St. Louis Sports Commission
314-345-5120
mschreiber@stlsports.org

SPORTS COMMISSION ON THE SEARCH
FOR LOCAL "GOOD SPORT"

AREA ATHLETE WILL BE HONORED AT NATIONAL SPORTSMANSHIP AWARDS IN FEBRUARY

            ST. LOUIS – Nov. 22, 2010 – The St. Louis Sports Commission is accepting nominations for its annual Good Sport Award, which recognizes a St. Louis area youth or high school athlete who demonstrates outstanding sportsmanship.  Candidates for the award should be nominated for a specific extraordinary act of sportsmanship that occurred in the last 12 months.  Nominees whose overall approach embodies sportsmanship will also be considered.  The award is open to athletes between the ages of 8 and 18 in the St. Louis region.

To nominate a deserving candidate, visit www.stlsports.org/awards and click on “Nominate a Good Sport.”  Nomination forms may also be obtained by calling the Sports Commission at 314-345-5130.  Nominations must be received by Friday, Dec. 31.  The award winner will be recognized at the 2011 National Sportsmanship Awards in St. Louis on Feb. 12.  The recipient and three family members or friends will be guests of the awards dinner and show.

Hosted annually by the Sports Commission and the Citizenship Through Sports Alliance, the National Sportsmanship Awards celebrates all that’s right in sports.  The event honors athletes and personalities from around the nation for their integrity, class, selflessness, perseverance, kindness, community service and overall commitment to sportsmanship.  Featuring major league superstars, local favorites and individuals with the most amazing and heartwarming stories, the event is one of the most meaningful and inspiring nights in sports.

The Good Sport Award was created by the St. Louis Sports Commission Associates – a group of area young professionals who volunteer to assist the organization’s efforts.  This marks the fourth year the Associates will present the Good Sport Award at the National Sportsmanship Awards.  Previous recipients include:

-Jared Ingram (2009):  Jared was an alternate for his St. Louis Express 4x400-meter relay team at the AAU Junior Olympic Games in Des Moines in July 2009.  He was tapped to run in the finals when a teammate was injured in the semifinals.  Although the 4x400 was not one of his usual events, he assisted his team in clinching a medal with hard work and determination.  Jared would have been within his rights to keep the medal and celebrate with his teammates.  However, the McCluer High School sophomore showed amazing selflessness.  Without hesitation, Jared gave the coveted medal to his injured teammate who would have run in the final.  He showed the world that true victory is being able to raise someone else's hand.

-Nicholas Kirkpatrick (2008):  While competing in the Endeavor Games – a regional track and field and swim meet for people with physical or visual disabilities – Nicholas, age 12, noticed an athlete from an opposing team was having problems with her racing chair.  Without the equipment, she would not be able to compete with her peers – an opportunity that children with disabilities do not get as often as able-bodied individuals.  Nicholas orchestrated a plan in which he raced to the finish line.  His dad then quickly transferred him from his equipment and ran Nicholas’ chair to the starting line for the girl to use.  Nick’s coach, Kelly Behlmann, explained, “For people not in chairs, consider after each of your track events you immediately take off your track shoes and let someone else run in them.  Then you have to adjust your footwear each time you begin your next race because the person who borrowed your shoes strings up your laces differently.”  Nick showed great selflessness and compassion for the girl, who like him, just wanted to race and be competitive with everyone else.

 

-Chad Riegel (2007):  The inaugural Good Sport Award was presented to Ritenour High School golfer Chad Riegel.  After mistakenly hitting an opponent’s ball in the district golf tournament, Chad self-reported the error, which resulted in a two-stroke penalty.  His final score ended up being one stroke away from making the cut for the State tournament.  Although his honesty cost him a trip to State, his integrity and sportsmanship earned him the admiration of many.

The 2011 National Sportsmanship Awards – presented by Maryville University – takes place at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12 inside the Edward Jones Auditorium on the campus of Edward Jones’ headquarters in St. Louis.  For ticket information, call 314-345-5122 or visit www.stlsports.org/awards.   The lineup of honorees will be announced in December.

The St. Louis Sports Commission is the privately funded nonprofit organization that benefits St. Louis through sports.

Its mission is to make the St. Louis region a better place to live, visit, work and play through sports.

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