PSA Annual Award Recipients Named
Trent Richardson, Bubba Watson, Doug Baldwin among Winners – Tickets Starting at $30
The Pensacola Sports Association (PSA) announces today the award recipients for the 2012 COX PSA Annual Awards Banquet. On Thursday, March 15 area athletes will be awarded for their outstanding athletic performance at the COX Annual Awards Banquet at Sanders Beach Community Center in Pensacola at 6:00 p.m.
Bubba Watson and Doug Baldwin have both been selected to receive the Professional Athlete of the Year Award. Watson won his second PGA Tour event, the Farmers Insurance Open, on January 30, 2011 and picked up his third career PGA Tour title the same year in May, at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Gulf Breeze High School alumni and Stanford’s Doug Baldwin signed as an undrafted free agent with the Seattle Seahawks in July. The rookie more than proved himself in the NFL when the wide receiver led his team in receiving yards, receptions, and touchdown catches. Both Watson and Baldwin have scheduling conflicts and have recorded an acceptance that will be shown.
Trent Richardson, the Heisman Trophy Award finalist and member of the University of Alabama BCS National Championship team, will receive the Amateur Athlete of the Year Award. He cannot attend the banquet as he is in Arizona training for his NFL try-out camp. The Special Olympic Athlete of the Year will be awarded to Michael Bjornstad for his outstanding performance at the 2011 State Aquatics meet where he took home the Gold.
Being inducted in the PSA Hall of Fame are Keith Wells, longtime Chairman of the Senior Scholar-Athlete Awards Banquet, Talmadge Nunnari, former field manager of the Pensacola Pelicans and current Assistant Baseball Coach for Jacksonville University , and Derrick Brooks, seasoned veteran of the NFL.
The Volunteer of the Year and the Sportsman of the Year will be announced at the banquet.
Special Achievement recipients include the Pensacola State College Women Basketball team and Aletheia Christian Academy Basketball team for winning their state championship, UWF Baseball athletes Greg Prone and Daniel Vargas-Villa, several Pine Forest High tennis players, Gulf Breeze Swim Relay Team, state weightlifting champions Jameeca Andrews, John McGovern, and Kayla Poole, Youth Horse Barrel Racing World Champion Summer Huff, and the UWF Div. II National Champion Baseball team.
PSA Hall of Fame inductee Derrick Brooks will be the guest speaker at the Awards Banquet. Brooks is a former NFL linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He led Tampa Bay to its first Super Bowl championship in 2002 and was named AP Defensive Player of the Year. Brookes has also been Recognized for his foundation, Derrick Brooks Charities, Inc. and other community involvement.
Reservations are required. Tickets are available at the Pensacola Sports Association through February 13. Tickets are $30 for Pensacola Sports Association members and $40 for non-members. Corporate tables are available, call the PSA at 434-2800 or visit pensacolasports.com for more information.
Contact the Pensacola Sports Association at 434-2800 or lhamrick@pensacolasports.com for more information.
