SANDY, Utah – Real Salt Lake has been nominated in four categories for the third-annual Utah Governor’s State of Sports Awards, hosted by the Utah Sports Commission and presented by Zions Bank. The annual awards celebrate the achievements made in high school, amateur, collegiate, Olympic and professional sports in the state of Utah in 2013.
RSL is nominated in two team categories and two individual categories. The club is one of six nominees for Utah Team of the Year, and the Claret-and-Cobalt’s heartbreaking MLS Cup 2013 defeat at Sporting Kansas City is nominated for Game/Event of the Year. On the individual side, RSL Captain Kyle Beckerman is one of six nominees for Professional/Olympian Male Athlete of the Year, and RSL GK Nick Rimando’s MLS Save of the Year-winning double save from last August against Colorado Rapids is up for Play/Highlight of the Year.
The winners of the Governor’s State of Sport Awards will be determined by an online vote. Voting is now open for all 10 award categories here. The nominees were selected by a committee comprised of members of the sports media and community at large.
The 10 winners of the State of Sport Awards will be announced at an awards dinner on April 22 at EnergySolutions Arena in downtown Salt Lake City. Utah Governor Gary R. Herbert will speak at the ceremony and present awards to all 10 winners. Golf legend, designer and philanthropist Jack Nicklaus will be a special guest at the event, along with this year’s lifetime achievement winners, Johnny Miller and Billy Casper.
2014 Governor's State of Sport Awards Nominees
High School Female Athlete
Sarah Feeny - Cross Country, Ogden High School
Kailie Quinn - Basketball, Judge Memorial High School
Kirtlyn Bohling - Softball, Salem Hills High School
Eliza Katoa - Volleyball, Layton High School
Lauryn Dela Cruz - Volleyball/Basketball, Timpview High School
Tatiana Su'e Su'e - Softball, San Juan High School
High School Male Athlete
Ula Toluta'u - Football, East High School
Dusty Hone - Wrestling, Cedar High School
Scott Nichols - Football/Track, Bingham High School
Brekkott Chapman - Basketball, Roy High School
Britain Covey - Football, Timpview High School
Osa Masina - Football, Brighton High School
College Female Athlete
Michelle Plouffe - Basketball, University of Utah
Cloee Colohan - Soccer, Brigham Young University
Georgia Dabritz - Gymnastics, University of Utah
Jennifer Hamson - Basketball & Volleyball, Brigham Young University
College Male Athlete
Kyle Van Noy - Football, Brigham Young University
Jason Washburn - Basketball, University of Utah
Zac Blair - Golf, Brigham Young University
Cody Hoffman - Football, Brigham Young University
Tyler Larsen - Football, Utah State University
Trevor Reilly - Football, University of Utah
Professional/Olympian Female Athlete
Sarah Hendrickson, - Ski Jumping, U.S. Ski Team
Heather Richardson - Speedskating, US Speedskating
Noelle Pikus-Pace - Skeleton, US Bobsled and Skeleton
Brittany Bowe- Speedskating, US Speedskating
Professional/Olympian Male Athlete
Kaycee Feild - Rodeo, PRCA
Damian Lillard - Basketball, Portland Trailblazers NBA
Trey Burke - Basketball, Utah Jazz NBA
Ted Ligety - Alpine Skiing, U.S. Ski Team
Kyle Beckerman - Soccer, Real Salt Lake MLS
Steve Holcomb - Bobsled, US Bobsled and Skeleton
Coach of the Year
Quincy Lewis - Basketball, Lone Peak High School
Matt Wells - Football, Utah State University
Keith Johnson - Baseball, Salt Lake Bees
Kristen Bailey - Volleyball, Timpview High School
Corbin Talley - Cross Country/Track, Davis High School
Team of the Year
Utah State University Football
Real Salt Lake
Davis High School Girls' Cross Country
Lone Peak High School Boys' Basketball
Salt Lake Bees
Duchesne High School Football
Game or Event of the Year
University of Utah Football Beats #5 Stanford
Real Salt Lake vs Sporting KC MLS Cup
Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Utah National
Pine View High School Football vs Juan Diego High School
Women's Ski Jumping Sanctioned Event in Olympics
Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah
Play or Highlight of the Year
Kelly McGarry Backflip Over Gap at Red Bull Rampage
Lone Peak's Tyler Haws 3 Pointer to Defeat Virginia's Bishop
Nick Rimando's Double Save to Defeat Colorado Rapids
Derrick Favors Game-Winning Dunk Against Lakers
Sky View's Jalen Moore Hits Game Winning Basket
Ryan Villopoto Wins 2nd Championship at Utah National