ORGANIZATION AWARDS $25,000 TO SEVEN AREA STUDENTS FOR EXEMPLIFYING CLASS AND CHARACTER ON THE PLAYING FIELD

ST. LOUIS – May 17, 2022 – Gus Tettamble, Anyi Sun, Taylor Brown, Matthew Clark, Chloe Rhine, Ryan Ulm, and Tyron Woodley, Jr., are the recipients of the 2022 Carl Fricks Sportsmanship Scholarships. The scholarships are awarded by the St. Louis Sports Commission’s young professionals group – the Sports Commission Associates – and recognize high school seniors from the region who embody outstanding sportsmanship. The seven students were selected by the Associates’ scholarship committee, which reviewed nominations from throughout the St. Louis area.

Tettamble, who will be graduating from St. Louis University High School, received the top scholarship award of $15,000 in recognition of his extraordinary class and selflessness, going above and beyond to ensure a fair playing environment as a standout tennis player.  He will continue his education at the University of Tulsa.

Sun received a $5,000 scholarship in acknowledgment of her reputation for the respect she showed opponents and officials through her four years as a member of the John Burroughs School hockey team.  She is set to graduate from Burroughs and will attend Bowdoin College.

Brown, Clark, Rhine, Ulm, and Woodley each received scholarship awards of $1,000. Brown will graduate from Lift For Life Academy and is enrolled at Principia College.  Clark is set to graduate from Collinsville High School and will attend the University of Missouri.  Rhine will graduate from Rockwood Summit High School and will continue her education at Saint Louis University. Ulm attends Fort Zumwalt West High School and is enrolled at Quincy University. Woodley will graduate from De Smet Jesuit High School and will attend Texas Southern University.

Bios highlighting all seven scholarship recipients and the reasons for their selection appear later in this news release. Their photos are available at sportsmanship.org/scholarship.

The Sports Commission Associates created the Sportsmanship Scholarship in 2009 to recognize and reward local high school seniors for their kindness, integrity, selflessness, and civility in athletic competition. The Associates have since awarded $182,500 to 55 college-bound students. The scholarship program supports the mission of the Sports Commission’s affiliated St. Louis Sports Foundation, which celebrates and elevates sportsmanship in the community. Candidates are evaluated strictly on their approach, character and respect for others on the playing field – athletic performance does not factor in the selection – making the Sportsmanship Scholarship unique.

In addition to choosing the recipients of the scholarship, the Sports Commission Associates raise funds to maintain the program. The Associates will host a golf tournament fundraiser on Saturday, July 30 at Forest Park to support the scholarship. More information on the golf event can be found at sportsmanship-classic.eventbrite.com.

The Sportsmanship Scholarship is named in honor of the late Carl Fricks, who embodied the virtues of sportsmanship. Through this gesture, the Associates recognized the selfless efforts of Carl’s daughter, Holly Yoakum, who chaired the group and was a champion for the scholarship initiative. Holly passed away unexpectedly in 2017, leaving so many friends and colleagues heartbroken. The Sports Commission and the Associates are dedicated to honoring Holly’s memory and legacy by growing the Sportsmanship Scholarship and carrying out her passion for doing good in the community.

2022 CARL FRICKS SPORTSMANSHIP SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS:

Gus Tettamble

The St. Louis University High School tennis captain views sportsmanship as a privilege. Making his mark in a sport that often requires athletes to serve as player and referee, Gus goes above and beyond the call of duty to ensure a fair playing environment, even when the calls do not go his way. The two-time St. Louis Sportsmanship Award winner for the Missouri Valley USTA was described by his coach as “honest to a fault.” If a ball is 99 percent out, Gus calls it in because playing the game is more important than any result. Gus once passed on an opportunity to abandon his doubles partner to play in a tournament with college scouts in attendance because he didn’t think it was fair to his regular playing partner.  Ollie Tettamble, Gus’ brother, said of his younger sibling, “It’s not often that someone looks up to their younger brother, but I proudly do. I admire him for his honesty, integrity, and civility.” In a sport dominated by individuality, Gus chooses to be a team player.

Anyi Sun

Anyi Sun has built a reputation of competing with, rather than competing against, her opponents. The John Burroughs hockey captain congratulates opponents when they make good plays, helps them up when they fall, and does not argue with officials regardless of the call. Anyi maintains this level of sportsmanship while establishing her own place as one of the few women playing on the John Burroughs ice hockey team. The school’s coaching staff describes Anyi as having high character at all times – highlighted by grace, chivalry and gratitude. She is aware of her unique situation in her sport and her responsibility to others. Anyi sees herself as a loyal teammate, a humble opponent and a respectful representative of her team and school.

Taylor Brown

Taylor Brown exhibits class and maturity beyond her years. The Lift For Life Academy basketball co-captain plays tough and finds ways to navigate through intense situations. During one game, Taylor stole the ball from an opponent. Frustrated, the young lady pushed Taylor into a nearby wall, where she hit headfirst. The stunned silence of the crowd signaled things could get ugly, but it was Taylor who kept her composure and after the game, talked things over with the opponent. The two ultimately shared a laugh and a hug. Taylor turned a negative situation into a positive one and provided a great lesson in sportsmanship for all involved.

Matthew Clark

Matthew Clark is being recognized for his integrity, selflessness, and commitment to sportsmanship. The Collinsville basketball co-captain has earned the respect of teammates and opponents alike for how he treats others. Matthew took it upon himself to mentor a teammate prone to emotional outbursts. He was the first to get in the handshake line after a tough loss to a rival school. An opposing coach said, “Matthew is the perfect example of true character in sports.” Matthew received endorsements for the scholarship from an opposing player’s parent, an opposing coach, a volunteer scorekeeper, and a referee.  He embodies the highest ideals and principles of sportsmanship and proves service to others is the most authentic mark of greatness.

Chloe Rhine

The Rockwood Summit softball standout understands sportsmanship is more important than the scoreboard. Chloe Rhine knows her role as an athlete and respects the difficult job of officials. She expressed her admiration for them and empathy for the harsh criticism they often take. She dissuades teammates from gloating when they make good plays or jeering opponents when they make poor ones. Chloe was the first girl to make Rockwood Summit’s JV baseball team before Covid ended her first season. Even this setback did not deter her from serving as an example of good sportsmanship and character. Parents of her teammates and opponents lauded Chloe for being a great player who simultaneously shows others how to behave on and off the field.

Ryan Ulm

Ryan Ulm is a team-first player. The Fort Zumwalt West catcher takes pride in doing the little things that make a team successful. Ryan also takes care to have positive interactions with officials. He politely introduces himself and shakes hands with them before every baseball game. During one game, both Ryan and the home plate umpire were injured by the same foul ball. He immediately went to the umpire’s aid rather than show concern for his own. Ryan’s coach said, “The umpire was beginning to fall over and Ryan hugged him to hold him up and was comforting him as the umpire needed a minute to catch his breath.” Ryan is mature, selfless, and exemplifies what it means to be a good sport.

Tyron Woodley, Jr.

Tyron Woodley, Jr. shows outstanding humility and selflessness in the face of adversity. The De Smet football captain rallied his teammates after a crushing loss in the state championship game and encouraged them to congratulate their victorious opponent. This came in the face of jeering and negative comments directed toward Tyron’s team by opposing players and fans. As a member of the wrestling team, Tyron lost a close and controversial match that negatively affected his chances to compete in the state tournament. His coach said, “Even though Tyron was disappointed, he held his head up high, and represented himself with class and sportsmanship as he shook the hands of his opponent and his coaches.”