St. Louis Sports Foundation
Carl fricks Sportsmanship Scholarship
PRESENTED BY THE SPORTS COMMISSION ASSOCIATES
Rewarding St. Louis’ Good Sports
As part of our effort to promote and encourage sportsmanship in the community, the Carl Fricks Sportsmanship Scholarship is presented annually to graduating high school seniors from the St. Louis metro area who embody outstanding sportsmanship. The scholarship recognizes individuals who exemplify honesty, integrity, civility, selflessness, kindness, compassion and class in athletic competition. Candidates are evaluated strictly on their approach, character and respect for others on the playing field. Athletic performance (wins and other stats) does not factor in the selection – making this scholarship truly unique.
Launched in 2009 by the St. Louis Sports Commission Associates – the Sports Commission’s young professionals group – the group raises funds for the program and selects its own recipients. Over the past fourteen years, $220,000 in academic scholarships have been awarded to 66 college-bound students.
Congratulations 2025 Scholarship Recipients!
Help us celebrate sportsmanship by nominating a deserving student who has demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship and character in athletic competition.
You can view the bios of past recipients to see the type of attributes and actions the scholarship committee seeks to recognize. For questions, please contact Solomon Alexander at 314-345-5130 or salexander@stlsports.org.
2025 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
Congratulations to the six 2025 recipients! Read their stories of sportsmanship and character.
COOPER BELLCHAMBER
VALLEY PARK HIGH SCHOOL
Cooper’s body of work exudes sportsmanship. He is the first to offer a hand to a fallen opponent, the first to thank the referees at the end of each game, and the first to uplift a discouraged teammate or competitor. Cooper’s soccer coach said he has personally witnessed Cooper extend genuine praise and encouragement to opposing players after tough losses or hard-fought games. One moment that stands out occurred during a district soccer match when an opposing player missed a crucial penalty kick. Instead of celebrating the miss, Cooper walked over, patted the player on the back, and offered words of encouragement. That moment captured Cooper’s unwavering respect for the game and his empathy for others, especially those outside his circle.
SOPHIA BOREN
FORT ZUMWALT NORTH HIGH SCHOOL
Sophia’s commitment to sportsmanship is ingrained, according to her swim coach. At every meet, she remains in the water until the last swimmer finishes, offering genuine encouragement. Following each competition, she respectfully shakes hands with opponents and thanks officials. She proactively welcomes and assists visiting teams, creating a positive atmosphere for all. Sophia’s compassion and selflessness are evident in her unwavering support for struggling swimmers. She consistently urges teammates to rally around competitors, especially novices or those facing challenging events. Her empathy and desire for everyone’s success are truly inspiring.
NICOLAS DELLA CROCE
ST. JOHN VIANNEY HIGH SCHOOL
Nicolas has exemplified the Carl Fricks Sportsmanship Scholarship’s core values of integrity, selflessness, kindness, and character throughout his high school athletic career. One striking example cited by his cross country coach describes a race in which Nic was on pace for a personal best but noticed a competitor who was visibly struggling and appearing disoriented. Instead of forging ahead, Nic ran alongside the struggling athlete, encouraging him all the way to the finish line. Also a standout on the wrestling mat, Nic was thrust into a position to wrestle against an opponent with special needs. There were no special requests from the opposing wrestler’s coaches, only to make Nic aware of the situation. As the match began, Nic clearly knew he could win the match very quickly, but instead of pinning his opponent right away, he allowed the wrestler to work on his moves and earn some points in the match. Nic’s opponent became excited to be scoring some points in a match as he hadn’t experienced that before. Nic eventually did win the match, but afterwards, his opponent’s coaches thanked Nic for allowing the kid to wrestle as no other competitors had let him enjoy a match all season, they had all exploited his weaknesses immediately.
JEREMIAH CARROLL
LUTHEREN NORTH HIGH SCHOOL
Jeremiah’s soccer coach noted that Jeremiah “competes the right way.” In a sports landscape that often glamorizes trash talking, Jeremiah is the opposite. Whether his team is winning or losing, his coach has heard Jeremiah compliment opposing players during games. Jeremiah has also consistently kept a cool head when a referee makes a questionable call, communicating with the official in a calm manner. His coach cited numerous examples of Jeremiah being a leader who competes hard to win but maintains a mature perspective and displays humility toward opponents no matter if his own skills exceed theirs or not.
EMMA EISWIRTH
PATTONVILLE HIGH SCHOOL
Emma is always thinking of others before herself and embodies the values of sportsmanship. She stated in her scholarship application essay that one of her proudest moments came when she noticed a swimmer pacing nervously in the ready room before her race. Though she was one of Emma’s competitors, Emma realized she was struggling, walked over and reminded her of everything she had already accomplished just to be there. After the race, when the other girl touched the wall first, they hugged and she told Emma her words of encouragement helped her focus. At a sectionals meet, Emma noticed one swimmer from another team racing in her lane with no one cheering for her. Emma made her way over and shouted encouragement. That swimmer won her heat and later thanked Emma for helping her push through.
WILL SCHERER
LINDBERGH HIGH SCHOOL
On the wrestling mat, Will is one of the best. But a special trait of Will’s is he also cares about other wrestlers, whether teammates or competitors. At a national tournament in North Dakota, Will overheard some coaches saying another wrestler likely wasn’t going to make weight the next day. Although Will needed to conserve energy and rest before the next day’s competition, he took it upon himself to locate the wrestler who was exercising alone in a dark parking lot trying to lose weight. He gave the competitor some advice on how to lose weight quickly and safely and loaned some clothing that would help him achieve that. With Will’s help, the wrestler was able to make weight and compete. Will said in his scholarship application essay, “No matter how ruthlessly competitive a sport like wrestling can get, it is important to always look at others as human beings first and not just possible competitors.”
