News

Nashville, Tenn. February 1, 2010- The Nashville Sports Council announced today the official list of award nominees for the 12^th Annual O’Charley’s Dinner of Champions.  The O’Charley’s Dinner of Champions is Nashville’s premier sports award event honoring outstanding achievements in high school, collegiate and professional sports by Middle Tennessee individuals, teams and organizations, as voted on by the Nashville sports media and Nashville Sports Council membership.   

The winners of each of the following award categories will be presented on Tuesday, February 23 at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel:  Sports Person of the Year, Ed Temple Amateur Athletics, High School Athletics (Male & Female), High School Team Athletics (Male & Female), Fred Russell Lifetime Achievement, Community Spirit, Nashville Sports Council Volunteer of the Year, Kaia Jergenson Courage, and the Sergeant York Trophy. The Top 10 Sports Moments of the Year for 2009 will also be unveiled.

            "The awards finalists represent precisely what is so wonderful about Middle Tennessee’s competitive spirit:  good sportsmanship, athletic achievement, character and perseverance,” said Jeff Warne, president and chief executive officer of O’Charley’s Inc.  “We’re looking forward to celebrating the outstanding contributions they have made to their teams and communities.”
            The nominees in the above-mentioned categories are as follows:

Sports Person of the Year:  Alysha Clark- Middle Tennessee State University Women’s Basketball; Chris Johnson- Tennessee Titans; Rick Stockstill- Middle Tennessee State University Football; Golden Tate- Notre Dame Football; Shea Weber-Nashville Predators.

Ed Temple Amateur Athletics:  Bryce Brentz- Middle Tennessee State University Baseball; Alysha Clark- Middle Tennessee State University Women’s Basketball; Calle Neilson- University of Virginia Women’s Golf; Warren Norman- Vanderbilt University Football; Golden Tate- Notre Dame Football. 

“We are honored to recognize some great athletic achievements from 2009,” said Scott Ramsey, president & CEO of the Nashville Sports Council.  Added Ramsey, “The O’Charley’s Dinner of Champions continues to be an incredible opportunity for Middle Tennessee sports fans to be a part of a unique celebration of our community’s athletic achievements.”

            The event will begin (Renaissance Nashville Hotel, downtown) with a silent auction, benefiting the Nashville Sports Council’s Good Sports Program, which supports amateur athletics in the Nashville MSA, at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner and the awards presentation.  Individual tickets and table sponsorships are still available.  Individual tickets for non-Sports Council members are $100, which includes dinner, complimentary valet parking, a Bronze level membership to the Nashville Sports Council and a commemorative gift.  For additional information contact the Nashville Sports Council at 615.743.3120 or visit NashvilleSports.com.

About the Nashville Sports Council 

The Nashville Sports Council is a private, non-profit, membership-based organization of area corporations and individual sports enthusiasts.  Created in 1992, the Nashville Sports Council’s mission is to positively impact the economy and quality of life of the Greater Nashville Area by attracting and promoting professional and amateur sporting events.  The Nashville Sports Council has hosted more than 130 major sporting events that have produced more than $366 million in direct economic impact for the region.  For more information call 615.743.3120 or visit NashvilleSports.com.

High School Male Athletics:  Cameron Croy- Brentwood High Wrestling; Payne Denman- DeKalb County Golf; Tavarres Jefferson- Ensworth Football & Basketball; John Jenkins- Station Camp Basketball; James Stone- Maplewood Football.

High School Female Athletics: Kelsey Cartwright- Goodpasture Softball; Jasmine Hassell- Wilson Central Basketball; Taylor Manning- Ravenwood Golf; Lauren March- Marshall Co. Basketball; Caroline Reeves- Oakland Swimming.

High School Male Team Athletics:  Beech Football; Brentwood Academy Baseball; Ensworth Basketball; Father Ryan Wrestling; Martin Luther King Magnet Track & Field.

High School Female Team Athletics: Davidson Academy Softball; Donelson Christian Golf; Ensworth Lacrosse; Hillsboro Basketball; Riverdale Softball.

Sergeant York Trophy: Awarded to the winner of the quadrangular season football series between the four Ohio Valley Conference schools located in Tennessee: Austin Peay State University; University of Tennessee at Martin; Tennessee State University; and Tennessee Technological University.

In addition, the Fred Russell Lifetime Achievement, Community Spirit, Nashville Sports Council Volunteer of the Year, and the Kaia Jergenson Courage Award will be presented during the February 23 event.  The Nashville Sports Council will also award two $2,500 college scholarships to a deserving male and female high school student-athlete who excels in the classroom as well as in their respective sport. This year the scholarships will be awarded to Bethany Krisle from Springfield High and Cody Simons from Martin Luther King Magnet.