Locals Win Mid-Atlantic Awards

Locals Win Mid-Atlantic Awards
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OCEAN CITY- The Ocean City Recreation and Parks Department was well represented last week at the Mid-Atlantic Recreation and Parks Alliance GoodSport Awards Ceremony with two recipients including a student-athlete and a long-time local coach among the recipients at the event held in Annapolis.

At the annual event hosted by Speaker of the House Michael Busch at the State House in Annapolis, MARPSA honored Stephen Decatur High School senior Jordan Taylor as a student-athlete and Mike Meekins, a father of three who coaches numerous sports for the Ocean City Recreation and Parks Department, as a coach. The MARPSA GoodSports Award program provides an opportunity for member agencies to recognize both young athletes and coaches who have modeled GoodSports behaviors in their local programs.

Taylor is a dedicated individual who has displayed outstanding sportsmanship over the several years he has been involved with Ocean City Recreation and Parks. He has participated and volunteered his time in many programs over the years including the Play it Safe activities, Seaside 10 races, basketball and soccer leagues and clinics and the flag football league as well as numerous camps for volleyball, basketball, soccer and baseball.

As a senior at Decatur, Taylor has been a member of the varsity football team. His accomplishments go beyond the fields and gyms of the local sports programs, however. He is currently the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company Cadet President and it the youth representative on the Worcester County Local Management Board.

“Jordan has a great and giving attitude and has earned the respect of players and coaches,” said Recreation Supervisor Kate Gaddis. “He is so likable that attracts the younger kids’ attention immediately. Jordan is respectful, honest and a true team player that is more than deserving of this award.”

Meanwhile, Meekins is the father of three boys all deeply involved in the local sports programs and has been involved with the Ocean City Recreation Program for 13 years, coaching at different times baseball, basketball, lacrosse and indoor and outdoor soccer, at times coaching two teams in the same league. In addition, Meekins helps the department in securing team sponsorships.

“Mike never fails to make a donation when requested,” said Recreation Supervisor Al “Hondo” Handy. “Above all else, Mike coaches his teams no matter what sport with pride. He teaches the kids to play hard and fair, take turns, be good winners and losers and to hold their heads high. Mike is a great example for others and an excellent role model for children.”

The Mid-Atlantic Recreation and Parks’ Sports Alliance is a consortium of Recreation and Parks Departments, organizations representing sports officials, and sport governing bodies in the region.  Each member organization designates one player and one coach to represent their community as a model of GoodSports.