There are still plenty of the "good guys/gals" out there in the sports world.
The United States Tennis Association recently named Northridge High tennis coach Mitzi Jeppesen as one of the 18 national finalists for the 2010 USTA Starfish Award.
The award, which honors high school coaches who implement a "No-Cut" policy for their high school tennis team, will be given to two winners on Aug. 30 in New York City.
A No-Cut policy essentially means every student who wishes to play is welcomed as a member of the team. Some programs have more than 100 official high school tennis team members. Jeppesen has been coaching tennis for the past 10 years.
This past season, the Knights team consisted of 51 boys and girls. Jeppesen also implemented a tennis club at a local facility where kids can learn and play tennis. To register as a no-cut coach or learn more about the program, visit www.usta.com/no-cut.
It's all downhill
U.S. Ski Team member Erik Fisher also qualifies as a good guy.
During a visit to Armenia last month, Fisher, the 2010 Olympian from Middleton, Idaho, met with a group of coaches, athletes and students at the Armenian State Physical Education University. He was in Armenia while picking up his sister Carlie from an LDS Church mission.
Before long, Fisher and his friend Arman Serebakian, who is a member of the Armenian National Ski Team, set up a a lecture on the U.S. alpine skiing development pipeline.
To continue the relationship, Fisher is working to build program with ski swaps around Idaho and Utah where unsold and unclaimed equipment is sent to the Armenian Ski Federation for free distribution to young athletes.
To support Fisher's effort, visit www.erikfisherusa.com.
Good cause
PRCA bullfighter Trever Hamsher tells the PRCA that Kidde, a UTC fire and security company, has donated 50 carbon monoxide detectors to him to distribute to cowboys.
Hamsher has been reaching out to companies since he read a story about the deaths of Mike Hillman and Jesse Andrus, who died of carbon monoxide poisoning in April.
The ProRodeo Sports News produced a five-page special report on the dangers of carbon monoxide in its May 14 edition.
Tidbits
The Rocky Mountain Football League will stage its season-ending All-Star Classic on July 17 at Ben Lomond High School. RMFL commissioner Jared Neumeier announced a further twist on the festivities: the AAA game will be first (1 p.m.), with the AA game being pushed back to the nightcap (approx. 6:45 p.m kickoff). ...
Doug Roberts was named director of instruction at Victory Ranch Golf Club in Park City. ... BYU golfer Robbie Fillmore earned All-America honorable mmention by the Golf Coaches Association of America.
Chris J. Miller is sports editor for the Standard-Examiner. He can be reached at 801-625-4261 or cmiller@standard.net.
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