Park Board Presents Winter Youth Sportsman Awards

Editor's Note: The following is a Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board press release.

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) presented four neighborhood park sports coaches and their teams and 11 individual youth with 2013 Winter Sportsmanship Awards at the April 17 meeting of the Board of Commissioners.

The teams were chosen among 199 MPRB winter youth sports teams for demonstrating exemplary sportsmanship throughout the winter 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.

In memory of Jordan Holt, MPRB 11U basketball players are awarded with the Jordan Holt Most Improved Basketball Player Award. Holt began playing team sports as a young child. Once he stepped on a basketball court and picked up the ball he was hooked for life. He loved the camaraderie and spirit that came alive when kids came together as a team. He thrived on practice and the excitement of the games and always tried to do his best. That enthusiasm stayed with him throughout his life. Jordan wanted to help others share in the happiness that comes from being a part of a team and working on the skills needed to be the best you can be.

The winners are:

2013 Youth Basketball Sportsmanship Award
Open: Folwell 11U – Coach Tim Jackson
Girls: Pearl 11U – Coach Kristin Baker

2013 Youth Wrestling Sportsmanship Award
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – Coach Eli Houghton

2013 Youth Hockey Sportsmanship Award
Penguins: Pearl – Coach Don Laufenberger

2013 Youth Hockey Most Improved Player Awards
Squirt: Kiran Patel – Linden Hills Fireballs
Penguins: Haley Tesch-Stevson – Pearl
Polar Bears: Vivian Sieger – Pearl
11U: Ezekiel “EZ” Rott – North Commons
13U: Henry Holcombe – Linden Hills Ice Hawks

2013 Youth Basketball 11-U Most Improved Player Awards
Lara Graber-Mitchell – Pershing-Linden Hills
Terrance Grayson – Folwell
Peter Anderson – Armatage-Kenny
Lexi Ballard – Farview
Tatiana Perdomo – Kenwood
Sherrod McMorris – North Commons

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

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