History
34 years ago, Dr. Walter F. Ersing had the idea of recognizing character and integrity among high school soccer players in Central Ohio, as they participate in varsity match play for their school. That vision grew into the Excellence In Sportsmanship Committee, which is made up of and supported by the members of the Licking County Soccer Officials Association and the Central Ohio Soccer Officials Association.
2025 Awards for the 2024 Season
Player Sportsmanship Awards
Nate Hettler – Grandview Heights H.S.
Olivia Collins – Whitehall-Yearling H.S.
Dennis Odoom – Beechcroft H.S.
Emma Gilbert – Marysville H.S.
Celestino Ramirez – Groveport Madison H.S.
Avery Williams – Licking Valley H.S. - Ed Brown Scholarship
Yonis Abdullahi – Mifflin H.S. - Walter Ersing Scholarship
Team Sportsmanship Awards
Mifflin H.S.
Franklin Heights H.S.
Coaches' Distinguished Merit Awards
The Chris Williams Boys’ Coach Award – Chris Vonau - St. Charles Prep.
The Chris Williams Girls’ Coach Award – Genelle Castro - Columbus School for Girls
Most Promising Official Awards
C.O.S.O.A. – Grant Weihrauch
L.C.S.O.A – Jason Ulbrich
PAST HONOREES
Player Sportsmanship Awards
Female Male
2023 Nadia Payden, Kalli Joneikis, Ava Flowers, Hailey Noland Walter Duckro, Liam DeLaney, Bryce Stillion
2022 Rachel Thompson, Erin Karas, Nelly Ortiz, Will Baker, Alan Aurand, Jon Grant, Carson Mauter,
Lucy Thompson Connor Knight
2021 Yosalyn Lopez Medina, Sydney Cook, Dylon Feagin, Chewy Koo, Adam Pugsley,
Rebekkah Rush, Annie Wagenbrenner Jeff Zeopuenger, Michael Ambrewster
2020 Dede Zartman, Dalia Matute, Eva Walton, Andrew Winters, Luke Eckels, Gavin Eastep
Riley Sheehan
2019 Morgan Bowers, Nina Zimmerman, Ann Economus Elijah Taylor, Eric Mensah, Noah Dagois, Ian Wolfe,
Taylor Hickman, Lexi Snider, Max Deckop, Michael Herilhy
2018 Mallory Beach, Madelyn Frank, Gwen Moran, Kayla Primm, Kevin Bolanos Hernandez, Jacob Cressy, Zach Meadows,
Melody Roberts, Abby Striker Noah Murphy, Josh Rymer
2017 Brooke Ackley, Elizabeth Romshe, Camryn Smith, Ryan Arter, Carson Bollinger, Gabriel Cardenas,
Emma Vessels Chase Davis
2016 Isabella Shively, Delany Hippler, Grace Deluca, Zach Rogers, Mitchell Bergman, Josh Burton,
Lane Scott, Dariann Hatton Alex Huy
2015 Amanda Augustyniak, Addison Hall, Haley Rees, Tajh Lambert, Wesley Vance, Griffin Whims
Abigail Rose, Kennedy Wells
2014 Amanda Augustyniak, Bailey Philips, Maegan Watkins Luke Klatt, Luke Gabbert, Jack Shadoan, Bryce Piwtorak
2013 Kerry Fry, Abby Demboski, Brooke Zinader Ryan Miller, Drew Winchell, Bobby Bogantz, Nick Santino
2012 Kylie Westlake, Josephine Asare, Jenna Applegett, Miki Huber, Luke Klatt, Quinn Miller
Samantha Burgess
2011 Domniqua Allen, Laquisha Hinton, Tori Montgomery Anderson DeAndrade, Austin DeCocker, Joel Sutphin
2010 Mollie King, Taylor Ross, Breanne Schrigley Derek Montgomery, Jordan Shonk, Josh Thomas
2009 Mackenzie Clapper, Leah Levey, Emily Slatter Paolo Bucci, Andrew Lentz, William Trapp
2008 Hannah Combe, Corrine Wulf, Chaska Yode Duncan Campbell, Anthony Iannarino, Joe Ramsey
2007 Brittany Cambell, Elizabeth Sullivan, Christine Ward Nick Blevins, Kris Corns, Brad Westlake
2006 Tahnai Annis, Stephanie Grant, Kaylee Phillips Andrew Emerick, Benjamin Johnson, Cory Trump
2005 Carly Dent, Kristen McMahon, Shawn Skladany Mark Alhajj, Ryan Picklesimer, Scott Spangler
2004 Suzanne Ash, Callie Wulf Levi Smith, Adam Worrall
2003 Natalie Dallas, Lindsey Macklin Tyler Briggs, Phil Walker
2002 Casey Cornely, Melissa Nazareth Mathew Eberle, Branden Pavol
2001 Mackenzie Tesner Matt Carroll
2000 Michele Vogel Eric Goncz
1999 Dianne Boyd Timothy Bezbatchenko
1998 Keri Stacy Jerrod Jones
1997 Sara Walker Mike Lochner
1996 Dominique Popescu Kerry Thompson
Team Sportsmanship Awards
Girls Team Boys Team
2023 West H.S. Teays Valley H.S.
2022 Cristo Rey H.S.
2021 Beechcroft H.S.
2020 Bishop Ready H.S.
2019 Teays Valley H.S. Teays Valley H.S.
2018 Tree of Life H.S. Beechcroft H.S.
2017 Pleasant H.S. Fairbanks H.S.
2016 DeSales H.S. Columbus Academy H.S.
2015 Newark H.S. Worthington Kilbourne H.S.
2014 Columbus Academy H.S. Granville Christian H.S.
2013 Olentangy Liberty H.S. Buckeye Valley H.S.
2012 Westerville South H.S. Northside Christian H.S.
2011 East H.S. Delaware Christian H.S.
2010 Amanda Clearcreek H.S. Buckeye Valley H.S.
2009 Grandview Heights H.S. Gahanna Lincoln High School
2008 Worthington Christian H. S. The Columbus Academy
2007 Pickerington Central H.S. Worthington Christian H. S.
2006 Westerville South H.S. Hilliard Davidson H.S.
2005 Hilliard Davidson H.S. Tree of Life Christian H. S.
2004 Olentangy H.S. Watkins Memorial H.S.
2003 Columbus School for Girls Westerville Central H.S.
2002 Bexley H.S. Lancaster H.S.
2001 Worthington Christian H.S. The Wellington School
2000 Granville H.S. Marysville H.S.
Coaches Distinguished Merit Award
Girls Coach Boys Coach
2023 Matt Evans Binh Huynh
2022 Chip Wall Shane Harber
2021 Genelle Castro Andy Cousins
2020 Tim Darling Jon Sprunger
2019 Elizabeth Higgenbotham Chris Kowalski
2018 Mark Wise Derek Hone
2017 Scott Nichols Jamie Dato
2016 Sarah Gantz Terry Smith
2015 Jon Quackenbush Josh Eaton
2014 Tim Barton Keosamnang Khim
2013 Courtney Irwin Todd Keenan
2012 Dan Fuchs David Geiss
2011 Mike Merna Jr. Ben Arthurs
2010 Dustin Hines Tony Earp
2009 Tim Barton Terry Smith
2008 Randy Spain David Sebek
2007 John Starr Scott Dapprich
2006 Bob McGhee Dennis Booth
2005 Annie Gage Mike Kirsch
2004 Jim Stevens Andy Cousens
2003 Jessica Scott Ron Leach
2002 Scott Dempsey Dieter Thellmann
2001 Phil Labuhn Bill Ho
2000 Vanessa Lewis John Siles
Banquet Guest Speakers
2024 Rob Smith Former Player, Coach, Educator Columbus Crew, USMNT & Olympics
2023 Jon Sprunger Coach-Boys/EIS WINNER Worthington Kilbourne High School
2020 Tim Bezbatchenko President & GM/EIS WINNER Columbus Crew SC
2019 William White Former Football Player OSU & NFL
2018 Gregory Dennis Athletic Director Cincinnati Country Day High School
2017 Terry Smith Coach-Boys/EIS WINNER Marysville High School
2016 Dwayne Marshall Coach-Boys/EIS WINNER Gahanna Lincoln High School
2015 Dante Washington Former PRO Player/Broadcaster Columbus Crew
2014 Dr. Jim Reuther Referee/Assessor/Clinician/EIS NFHS/USSF/NCAA/NAIA/PRO
2013 Brian Bliss Former Player/Technical Director Columbus Crew
2012 Dr. Jay Martin Coach-Men Ohio Wesleyan University
2011 Linda Zelms Area Director Special Olympics Ohio
2010 Larry Larson Sportswriter/Broadcaster 610 WTVN Radio
2009 John Dickerson Assistant Commissioner/EIS WINNER OH High School Athletic Association
2008 Dave Maetzold Radio & TV Sportscaster WCHM TV/NBC4
2007 Dave Stewart Principal Hilliard Darby High School
2006 Lori Walker Coach-Women The Ohio State University
2005 Ron Leach Coach-Boys/EIS WINNER Columbus Academy
2004 Dr. Donna Pastore Sports Management The Ohio State University
2003 Kathy Kinnard Athletic Director Grandview Heights High School
2002 Mary Beth Lengefeld Coach-Women Muskingum College
2001 George "Archie" Groom Coach-Girls/EIS WINNER Grandview High School
2000 Kerry Thompson Soccer Player/EIS WINNER The Ohio State University
1999 Todd Yeagley Profession Soccer Player Columbus Crew
1998 Garry Avedikian Coach-Boys & Men/EIS WINNER Centerville HS/The Ohio State University
1997 Larry Larson Former Athletic Director Grandview High School
1996 Margie Shade Coach-Women Ohio Wesleyan University
1995 Bud Lewis Coach-Men Wilmington College
1994 Dr. Ralph Shibley Professor-Special Education University of Rio Grande
1993 Jerry Harback Coach-Men Case Western Reserve University
1992 Dr. Walter Ersing Former Coach-Men/EIS FOUNDER The Ohio State University
1991 John McGillvray Coach-Men Cedarville College
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