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The annual awards given at the Honors Program are as follows: Court of Honor: Recognizes individuals who have distinguished themselves through service to GABL and have been a positive influence on the youth of our community.Marcus Priddy Award: Recognizes a current coach (youth, high school or college) who is making a positive difference in the lives of his or her players. The mentoring aspect of coaching is more important than the wins and losses. The award is named in honor of the late Shawnee Mission West girls basketball coach, who also worked in the GABL summer league. “Making a Difference” Award: Recognizes an individual who has made a positive difference in the lives of youth, serves the community in a positive manner and promotes the values of athletic participation. If you have any questions about the awards or would like to submit a future nomination, contact Michelle Pond at mpond@gabl.net. Click Here for a List of Past Honorees Service to and support of community and youth are hallmarks of those recognized at the 7th Annual Sonic GABL Honors Program. The event was held April 22 at the Sylvester Powell Jr. Community Center in Mission, Kansas. On this evening, the GABL Youth Sports Foundation recognizes individuals who have contributed to the Foundation during the current year and those who have served the Foundation and youth in general over several years. The restructuring of the GABL corporate entity was recognized through a video segment entitled “Introduction to the GABL Youth Sports Foundation.” Dave Reichart and Barry Vonada received service awards as outgoing members of the Foundation board of directors. During his three years on the board, Dave was a member of the Honors Committee and the Outreach Committee. He is a former GABL participant. Barry also served on the board for three years. He was a coach, boys area director and was instrumental in the development of the girls program. The Foundation also showed its appreciation to members of the corporate partner program. KC Sport Speed, Sports Management Associates, Shawnee Mission Medical Center and Dick’s Sporting Goods were recognized as Business Partners. US Bank, Briley Sonic Group, Unisource Document Products and Select Photo-Graphics were recognized as Champion Partners. The coaches of the 2010 sportsmanship team winners were recognized. Previously, the coaches and team members received trophies. The Legacy Achievement Award was a new award this year that was established to recognize former GABL players (minimum of three years) who have completed their senior year of varsity high school basketball. A total of 17 players were recognized.
The GABL Court of Honor was established to recognize individuals who have distinguished themselves through service to GABL and have been a positive influence to the youth of our community. The 2010 class is the 2005 Girls Competition Committee. Previously, Court of Honor inductees have been individuals. This year, the Honors Committee deviated from that procedure to recognize a unique contribution that a group of individuals made to this organization and the positive impact they have had on so many young girls.
For nearly 30
years, GABL provided programs only for boys. In 2002, the Board of
Directors began an initiative to add programs for girls. Board member
Dennis Nicely
was the leader of that initiative.
After three years of trying different formats with limited success, the
Board appointed the first Girls Competition Committee. Dennis was
appointed chair and another Board member,
Eric Arner,
was appointed to the committee.
Three additional individuals who had been involved in the boys program and
were now coaching their daughters,
Barry Vonada, Tom Hess
and Brad
Daniels, rounded out the group
that turned the girls program around.
Ingram has coached interscholastic sports for more than 30 years. Steve is probably best known for guiding the Olathe South High School girls basketball program for 21 years, but he also has coached football, volleyball, cross country and track. Ingram’s Olathe South Falcons have put together a string of six straight state tournament appearances, culminating in the Kansas 6A championship this year. They also have won six straight Sunflower League championships. Steve has been the Sunflower League Girls Basketball Coach of the Year eight times, including the last two seasons. He received the Eddie Ryan Award, which is presented by the Greater Kansas City Basketball Coaches Association (GKCBCA) to the top boys and girls coaches in the greater Kansas City area, in both 2000 and 2010. Ingram is a graduate of Shawnee Mission South High School and Kansas State University. He has a Master’s degree from Emporia State University. Steve is a member of the board of directors and is a past president of GKCBCA. He is the All-Star Games director of the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association and is a past president of that association.
Logan volunteered as a
coach in Great American Basketball League (GABL) for 11 consecutive years
and was a member of the board of directors for 10 years. A portion of his
tenure on the board took place after his sons were finished playing in the
league. He served as a grade director for nine years and was chair of the
Sportsmanship Committee. Fred was inducted into the GABL Court of Honor in
2008. Logan is a graduate of Shawnee Mission South High School, Indiana University and the Indiana University School of Law. He is a partner in the firm of Logan Logan & Watson. Fred is a panelist on “Kansas City Week in Review”, a political analyst and columnist on KCTV5 and KCMO-TV and writes the column “Public Affairs Journal,” which appears in the Kansas City Business Journal.
Making a Difference Award Recipient Fred Logan
Managed by
Sports Management Associates, L.C.
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