Gaithersburg Coach, Player of Year Receive Regional Award

From the City of Gaithersburg: City of Gaithersburg Youth Sports Coach of the Year Matt Bugbee and Youth Sports Player of the Year Alana Scott were presented with Dennis Callahan Good Sports Awards by the Mid-Atlantic Recreation and Parks Sports Alliance at a special reception in Annapolis on March 22, 2017. Named for Dennis Callahan, co-founder of MARPSA and former Director of Anne Arundel County Parks and Recreation Department, member jurisdictions nominate individuals who model “Good Sports” actions and behaviors in local athletics. The Gaithersburg Mayor and City Council will recognize Matt and Alana at a meeting at City Hall on Monday, May 15 at 7:30 p.m.

Matt Bugbee began coaching for the City of Gaithersburg flag football program in 2013 and has continued coaching City t-ball, baseball, soccer, and basketball programs. Matt encourages players to play with good sportsmanship and to participate in multiple sports. He holds not only his players, but also coaches and parents to the highest standards, demonstrating fairness and respect towards opponents, officials, coaches, and staff. Matt and his wife have further demonstrated their commitment to youth sports by supplementing the City’s baseball program with additional equipment for all of the teams in the league.

Alana Scott, a 5th grader at Laytonsville Elementary School, has been playing basketball, soccer and softball with the City for several years and is always assisting other players on the team as well as helping the coach with equipment and preparation for practices and games. Alana also volunteers her time at school as a member of the Green Team and helps with neighborhood projects to keep her community clean and safe. Alana is the first one in line to congratulate the other team at the end of a game and cheers on good plays no matter which player, teammate or opponent, makes the play. Alana is a role model to her teammates, always positive and encouraging and pushing everyone to do their best.

The Mid-Atlantic Recreation and Parks Sports Alliance is a consortium of Recreation and Parks Departments, sports officiating groups, and sport governing bodies in the region. The goal is to develop the best practices for delivering programs that exemplify the good that comes from youth sports.

For more information on sports programs in Gaithersburg visit www.gaithersburgmd.gov.

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