Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year: Ashley Wittman
AVP Champion and Two-Time Gold Medalist Misty May-Treanor Surprises Standout with Elite Honor
In its 25th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with ESPN RISE, announced Ashley Wittman of Shakopee High School (Shakopee, Minn.) as its 2009-10 Gatorade® National Volleyball Player of the Year. Wittman was surprised with the news during her sixth period class at Shakopee High School by AVP champion and two-time gold medalist Misty May-Treanor.
“It felt great to surprise Ashley with the Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year award and invite her into one of the most prestigious legacy programs in high school sports,” said AVP Champion Misty May-Treanor. “Gatorade has been on the sidelines fueling athletic performance for years, so to be recognized by a brand that understands the game and truly helps athletes perform is a huge honor for these kids.”
The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the court, distinguishes Wittman as the nation’s best high school volleyball player. A national advisory panel comprised of sportswriters and sport-specific experts from around the country helped select Wittman from more than 404,000 high school volleyball players nationwide. Wittman is now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade® Female High School Athlete of the Year award, to be presented at a special afternoon ceremony prior to The ESPY Awards in July.
The 6-foot-1 senior outside hitter led the Sabers to a 32-0 record and their third consecutive Class 3A state championship this past season. The two-time Gatorade® Minnesota Volleyball Player of the Year, Wittman collected 569 kills, 294 digs, 50 blocks and 26 service aces this season while posting a kill percentage of .662. In the Class 3A state final, she had 34 kills and 19 digs in a three-set sweep over Wayzata High. Wittman is also a two-time Minneapolis Star Tribune Player of the Year and a three-time First Team All-State selection.
A two-time Amateur Athletic Union Girls’ Junior National Champion, Wittman led her Northern Lights club team to the USA Volleyball Junior Olympic Championships Open Division national semifinals in three straight years, including a finals appearance in 2009.
The 2008 PrepVolleyball.com National Junior of the Year, Wittman served as captain of the gold-medal-winning 2008 U.S. Girls’ Youth National Team at the NORCECA Girls’ Youth Continental Championship and was a member of the USA Select Red Team that won the gold medal at the 2007 USA Volleyball High Performance Championships in the International Junior Division.
Wittman has maintained a 3.87 GPA in the classroom. An active member of her church community and a member of the National Honor Society, Wittman has served on the Shakopee High Student Council in addition to coaching, officiating and instructing as a youth volleyball camp, clinic and summer league volunteer. She has also donated her time to the America Reads literacy-outreach program, the Special Olympics, and as a fundraiser for Feed My Starving Children international humanitarian efforts.
“Wittman is one of the best I’ve ever seen,” said Mike Dean, head coach of rival Prior Lake High. “Her defense and her competitive drive is what sets her apart from the rest. She does whatever she has to do to win.”
Wittman has signed a National Letter of Intent to play volleyball on scholarship at the University of Minnesota next fall and will graduate Shakopee High early to begin attending spring semester collegiate classes.
“Without question, Ashley is deserving of recognition as the nation’s best high school volleyball player based on her statistics on the court and the impact her accomplishments have had on Shakopee High School’s success,” said Gatorade Senior Vice President of Sports Marketing Jennifer Storms. “But she is also a shining example to peers and aspiring young players of what a leader and a student-athlete should be. She represents everything we hope for in a Gatorade® Player of the Year recipient.”
The Gatorade® Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by ESPN RISE and the Gatorade high school sports leadership team, which work with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.
To celebrate the award’s 25th anniversary, Gatorade wants you to vote for the All-Time Greatest Volleyball Player of the Year at www.gatorade.com/POY25. To keep up to date on the latest happenings, become a fan of Gatorade® Player of the Year on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. For more information on the Gatorade® Player of the Year program, including nomination information, a complete list of former winners, and future announcement dates, visit http://playeroftheyear.gatorade.com/.
ALL-TIME GATORADE NATIONAL VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
YEAR NAME HIGH SCHOOL STATUS
2009-10 Ashley Wittman Shakopee/ High School Senior Shakopee, MN
2008-09 Gina Mancuso Papillion-La Vista/ University of Nebraska Papillion, NE
2007-08 Kelly Murphy Joliet Catholic/ University of Florida Joliet, IL
2006-07 Alix Klineman Mira Costa/ Stanford University Manhattan Beach, CA
2005-06 Megan Hodge Riverside/ Penn State University Durham, NC
2004-05 Cynthia Barboza Wilson Classical/ U.S. National Team Long Beach, CA
2003-04 Cynthia Barboza Wilson Classical/ U.S. National Team Long Beach, CA
2002-03 Kristin Richards Timpanogos/ U.S. National Team Orem, UT
2001-02 Bre Ladd Canyon Del Oro/ Attended Univ. Tucson, AZ Of Arizona
2000-01 Ogonna Nnamani University/Normal, IL Galatasary (Istanbul)
1999-00 April Ross Newport Harbor/ AVP Pro Beach Newport Beach, CA Volleyball
1998-99 Logan Tom Highland/ Asystel Novara (Italy) Salt Lake City, UT
1997-98 Sara Sandrik Pelham/Pelham, AL Stanford Graduate
1996-97 Denise Boylan Benet Academy/ Notre Dame Graduate Lisle, IL
1995-96 Kerri Walsh Archbishop Mitty/ AVP Pro Beach San Jose, CA Volleyball
Source: The Gatorade Company
2009 Under Armour American Youth Football National Championships
Athletes to Showcase Football Skills and Learn from Top Performance Trainers at the Under Armour Combines
On December 5th, American Youth Football® (AYF) and Under Armour® will welcome more than 13,000 football players, cheerleaders and families from across the U.S. to Orlando, Florida for the 2009 Under Armour American Youth Football National Championships.
AYF hosts the nation’s largest championship football event as they strive to accomplish their mission of providing all kids a place to play. Participants will compete in 40 different divisions, allowing youth of all ages, sizes and skill levels a chance to play for a national title. AYF President Joe Galat, a former NFL and NCAA coach, emphasizes the goal of inclusiveness, “from 7-year-olds to middle school all-stars, all young people should have the opportunity to experience this extraordinary event. We built the week around family, fun, volunteerism, sportsmanship, and healthy competition; this event is the heart of the game of football.”
Another goal is to keep the event affordable. AYF works with county commissions instead of private facilities to help offset the cost of the event and to ultimately subsidize the participant cost. “It is key for us to keep the event accessible to families of all backgrounds,” says AYF Executive Director, Jessica Abramovich. “Bringing together kids from diverse groups who have a shared passion for football and cheer is an essential part of the championship experience.”
Aside from the intense competition, athletes will participate in Under Armour Combines and learn from the best performance trainers in sport. To celebrate their accomplishments, players and their families will take over Universal Studios for a private party. AYF will also induct a new class into the AYF Hall of Fame, which honors volunteers who have dedicated more than 25 years of service to their community youth football program. This year the inductees hail from Hawaii, California, Mississippi, Illinois and Florida.
Daily score updates and pictures from the event can be found at www.ayfchampionships.com.
Coverage of the Under Armour American Youth Football National Championships will be broadcast on the Versus Network.
American Youth Football (AYF)
(AYF) is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides support services, scholarships, grants, giving back programs and tournaments to over 600,000 youth members in 50 states and several countries worldwide. AYF is the nations largest football program and is committed to Giving Back; since its inception in 1996, AYF has donated over $15 million dollars in grants and athletic product to communities that support youth football. AYF was the first national organization to offer all-inclusive football divisions, enabling every child a place to play. For more information visit the website at www.americanyouthfootball.com.
Source: American Youth Football
Mark Teahen named 2009 Hutch Award winner
Major League Baseball’s Mark Teahen, longtime third baseman for the Kansas City Royals and recently acquired by the Chicago White Sox, will receive the 2009 Hutch Award®. The award is given annually to a Major League Baseball player who best exemplifies the honor, courage and dedication of baseball great Fred Hutchinson, both on and off the field.
The 28-year-old Redlands, Calif., native made his MLB debut with the Royals in April 2005, playing third and first bases and the outfield. He had been a unanimous first-team, All-West Coast Conference selection in 2002. Teahen, whose father is from Ontario, has dual Canadian-American citizenship and last March played on the Canadian men’s national team in the World Baseball Classic. On Nov. 5 he was traded to the White Sox.
“I am extremely excited to accept the Hutch Award, and I am humbled to be added to the prestigious list of former recipients,” Teahen said. “I am honored and am thankful for all of my friends and family who help me accomplish the many successes I’ve been fortunate to achieve.”
Teahen said the Hutch Award and its connection with Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center mean even more to him because this year he witnessed his mother’s successful battle with breast cancer.
Off the field, Teahen has been active in the local community. For nearly the entirety of his tenure with the Royals, Teahen served as a key spokesman and fundraiser for the YMCA Challenger Baseball program, a division of Little League Baseball that gives children with physical or mental challenges the opportunity to play on specially designed baseball fields. In addition, he has donated time to the Royals AbilityCAMP, an interactive baseball camp for kids with disabilities, and he has supported other causes and foundations focusing on the well-being of children.
Teahen will visit children at the Hutchinson Center’s Hutch School and receive his award at the annual Hutch Award Luncheon on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010 at Safeco Field in Seattle. Legendary pitcher and 1989 Hutch Award winner Dave Dravecky will be the featured speaker at the luncheon, which raises funds for cancer research.
The Hutchinson Center was founded by Fred’s brother Bill, a prominent Seattle surgeon, after Fred died of cancer at age 45. The Hutch Award was established in 1965 and was first given to Mickey Mantle. Other Hutch Award winners have included 2008 recipient Jon Lester, Mike Sweeney, Mark Loretta, Craig Biggio, Jamie Moyer, Willie McCovey, Willie Stargell, Omar Vizquel, Sandy Koufax and Carl Yastrzemski. In all, 11 Hall-of-Famers have received the Hutch Award. For more information about the Hutch Award, including a full list of past recipients, visit www.fhcrc.org/hutchaward.
Source: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Official DVD & Blu-ray chronicling New York Yankees 2009 World Series Championship
Official ’2009 World Series Film: Philadelphia Phillies(TM) vs. New York Yankees(R)’ DVD & Blu-ray(TM) Available Nationwide on DVD November 24 and on Blu-ray(TM) High-Def December 15
The 2009 Fall Classic was the searing face-off many had hoped for — the defending World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies against the New York Yankees. Eighty-six years after opening the original Yankee Stadium in 1923 with their first World Series title, the Yankees celebrated their inaugural season in the new Yankee Stadium with a record 27th championship.
Celebrating the excitement and captivating moments of this year’s Fall Classic, Major League Baseball Productions and Shout! Factory are offering baseball fans the ultimate insider’s look at the Yankees’ quest to win this year’s World Series title in a taut, six-game series victory over the Phillies. The official 2009 World Series Film: Philadelphia Phillies vs. New York Yankees, available nationwide on DVD on November 24, 2009, and on Blu-ray in High Definition on December 15, 2009, grants fans the opportunity to relive the long-awaited record-breaking 27th World Series title in Yankees history, the team’s first such victory in nearly a decade.
The collectible 2009 World Series Film provides extensive coverage of this year’s Fall Classic and will be sold at the New York Yankees Clubhouse Shops, the official team stores of the New York Yankees; online at MLB.com, the official Web site of Major League Baseball, as well as Yankees.com; and at retailers nationwide. The official DVD and Blu-ray editions are available now to preorder at MLB.com, Yankees.com, Amazon.com and various online retailers. The official DVD has a suggested retail price of $19.99, and the Blu-ray is being offered at the suggested retail price of $29.99.
The 2009 World Series Film on Blu-ray and DVD features more than 80 minutes of main program presentation and nearly 30 minutes of bonus footage, including highlights from the American League Championship Series, American League Division Series, World Series, clubhouse celebrations and championship parade. Using elements captured through the unparalleled access of Major League Baseball Productions, the official Blu-ray and DVD provide unique, adrenaline-filled game-by-game coverage of the 2009 World Series, exclusive sound via wireless microphones, as well as interviews with players, coaches and team personnel, allowing fans an exclusive passport to the clubhouse during the Yankees’ postseason run. For the seventh consecutive year, MLB Productions captured both on- and off-the-field elements of the World Series with high definition (HD) cameras, ensuring that every facet of the Fall Classic is presented on Blu-ray and DVD in pristine, digital-quality video and audio.
Both the Yankees and Phillies teams featured game-changing players, elite pitchers and a knack for late-inning comebacks. No team had won more road games than the Phillies. No team had won more home games than the Yankees. Each team cut their way through the Division Series and League Championship Series with the same goal in mind. But when the final out of the Fall Classic was recorded, it was the New York Yankees who prevailed.
The official 2009 World Series Film provides a comprehensive look at the amazing journey the Yankees made toward winning their record 40th American League pennant and their return to glory by capturing their 27th World Series title in club history — from Matsui’s heroic hitting to A-Rod’s postseason resurgence to captain Jeter’s clutchness to Mo’s incredible domination — all culminating with a ticker tape parade before a huge crowd of fans in Manhattan.
DVD and Blu-ray bonus content includes:
– ALDS GAME 2: MARK TEIXEIRA WALK-OFF HR
– ALDS GAME 2: ALEX RODRIGUEZ HR
– ALCS GAME 2: ALEX RODRIGUEZ HR
– ALCS GAME 2: YANKEES WALK-OFF WIN
– ALCS GAME 6: LAST OUT
– WS GAME 3: ALEX RODRIGUEZ HR
– WS GAME 4: JOHNNY DAMON 9TH INNING AT-BAT
– WS GAME 4: JOHNNY DAMON STEALING SECOND AND THIRD BASE
– WS GAME 4: ALEX RODRIGUEZ 9TH INNING DOUBLE
– WS GAME 6: HIDEKI MATSUI HOMERUN
– WS GAME 6: HIDEKI MATSUI 2-RUN SINGLE
– WS GAME 6: HIDEKI MATSUI 2-RUN DOUBLE
– FINAL 3 OUTS OF WORLD SERIES AND CELEBRATION
– PLAYER REACTIONS
2009 WORLD SERIES FILM : PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES VS. NEW YORK YANKEES – DVD
Suggested Retail Price: $19.99
Widescreen 16:9
Audio: 2.0 Stereo
Release Date: November 24, 2009
2009 WORLD SERIES FILM: PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES VS. NEW YORK YANKEES – Blu-ray
Suggested Retail Price: $29.99
1080i High Definition
Audio: PCM 5.1 Surround
Release Date: December 15, 2009
Source: Shout! Factory; Major League Baseball Productions
Fox Sports en Espanol hits ratings Home Run with 2009 World Series coverage
Network Strikes Out Competition across All Key Demographics during MLB Post-Season
Fox Sports en Espanol, the country’s leading Spanish-language sports media platform, struck out the competition with its coverage of the recently concluded 2009 Major League Baseball World Series. The network’s number one program during the ratings bonanza was Game Six of the World Series (Yankees vs. Phillies, 11/4/09), which delivered 261,000 Hispanics in the key P18-49 demographic. Overall, Fox Sports en Espanol finished with a 3.43 (1.74 P18-49) household coverage rating, up 81% in total households vs. its World Series coverage from 2008, and 240% over 2007.
“The only thing more exciting for us than this memorable Fall Classic is the fact that our loyal fans consistently tuned in to Fox Sports en Espanol for the best live coverage of the Series,” said David Sternberg, General Manager of Fox Sports en Espanol. “This clearly validates our mission of providing the most important sporting events, with the best analysis, of any Hispanic sports network.”
The results were strong for FSE’s advertisers, as well, with the network over-delivering across all demographics and surpassing its three-year World Series average. Ratings for coverage of the entire Major League post season was up dramatically over last year, with the American League Championship Series drawing a total Hispanic household rating of .92 for P18-49 and 1.24 for men, vs. last year’s .39 and .44 respectively. Overall, Fox Sports en Espanol maintained its position as the leading Hispanic sports network in the ratings for the second week in a row, averaging 73% more Hispanic P18-49 in primetime than its next closest competitor.
This marked the ninth consecutive year that Fox Sports en Espanol has offered live, exclusive Spanish-language coverage of the MLB postseason. In addition, as part of a seven-year partnership with Fox Broadcasting Company that runs through the 2013 season, the network will continue to offer live and exclusive Spanish-language coverage of approximately 26 MLB regular-season games each year plus the annual All-Star Game.
Source: Fox Sports en Espanol