USOC Announces Central Washington University Women’s Softball Team as Winner of 2008 Jack Kelly Fair Play Award

ORLANDO, Fla. - The U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) announced the Central Washington University (CWU) Women's Softball Team as winner of the 2008 Jack Kelly Fair Play Award. The award was established by the USOC in 1985 to honor the late USOC President and Olympic medalist Jack Kelly.  Each year, the award is presented to an athlete, coach or official in recognition of an outstanding act of fair play and sportsmanship.

The award was presented by Kelly's wife, Sandra Kelly, at the USOC's Olympic Assembly in Orlando, Fla., on Saturday, Oct. 11, to recognize an extraordinary act of sportsmanship that occurred on the field of play earlier this year by CWU's Women's Softball Team. Accepting on behalf of the team were 2008 graduates Logan Mohr (third base) and Kasey Druffel (right field).

The honorable character of Central Washington's Women's Softball Team made headlines around the country last April when several players came to the aid of an injured opponent, simultaneously securing the outcome of the game. On Saturday, April 27, 2008, CWU played Western Oregon University in a double header in the NCAA playoffs. Western Oregon senior Sara Tucholsky hit a home run with two runners on base, but as she doubled back to tag first base, she tore her ACL and fell to the ground in pain, unable to continue.

The umpires ruled that if Tucholsky wasn't able to round the bases, she would have to be replaced at first base with a pinch runner and record her hit as a two-run single. Instead, the players from Central Washington University decided to lend a hand. CWU's Mallory Holtman and Liz Wallace carried Tucholsky around the bases, stopping to help her touch each base as they passed and securing the third run earned by her homerun.

Tucholsky's homerun secured the win for Western Oregon and moved the team forward in the playoffs, but Central Washington's feat was the bigger victory, teaching the world an important lesson in true sportsmanship and earning its recognition as the USOC's Jack Kelly Fair Play Award winner for 2008.

The USOC describes fair play as an individual or team dedicated to playing fair, obeying the rules and upholding the spirit of the game. Sportsmanship is an individual or team whose conduct and attitude demonstrate gracious behavior before, during and after competition. Notable past recipients of the Jack Kelly Fair Play Award include Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Lance Armstrong, Michele Akers, Laura Kraut, and Erin Mirabella.

In addition to being a past president of the USOC, Kelly was an Olympic bronze medalist in single scull rowing in 1956 and an eight-time U.S. National Champion. He was awarded the James E. Sullivan Award for the top amateur U.S. athlete in 1947. He was the son of another famous Olympian, rowing triple gold medalist John B. Kelly, as well as brother to Princess Grace Kelly. Jack Kelly passed away in 1985.

For more information, please contact the USOC Media and Public Relations Division at 719-866-4529.