Sept. 30, 2012 – Local State Farm agents recognized three outstanding Collier County high school coaches as recipients of the 2012 “Good Neighbor” Sportsmanship award. The winners, Mike DiGrigoli of Golden Gate High School, Shannon McFee of St.John Neumann High School, and Rick Turner of Naples High School were honored at a luncheon banquet held on Wednesday, September 26, at The Club at The Strand in Naples. Former players and athletes paid tribute to the winning coaches. Local State Farm Agents Buzz Hill, Richard Conover, Brian Glaeser, Scott Hansen, Javed Kapadia, Ralph MacNiven, and Julie Wittock sponsored the luncheon.
The keynote speaker at the event was Bill Kramer, the men’s football coach at Naples High School. Kramer has been named the Florida Athletic Coaches Association “District Coach of the Year” seven times, and has won the FACA’s statewide award. The 123 - 33 record that Coach Kramer and the Naples football staff have compiled the last thirteen years ranks them number one in total wins and winning percentage in Naples High’s 59 years of football tradition.
The “Good Neighbor” Sportsmanship award was started in 2003 by State Farm Agent Buzz Hill and Community School Athletic Director Bill Carufe. The award honors one high school coach from each sports season who best demonstrates good sportsmanship. Coaches are nominated by the athletic directors at the 11 Collier high schools, who then vote on the winners.
“A high school coach impacts the life of a student-athlete forever” said Hill. “The award has become a true community event in which outstanding high school coaches are recognized by their peers.”
The following coaches have received the award since 2003:
| 2003: | Fall - Bill Kramer, Naples High School Winter - David Corcoran, Barron High School Spring - Becky Welch, Everglades High School |
| 2004: | Fall - Harold Lawson, Gulf Coast High School Winter - Don Huprich, Barron High School Spring - Nancy Geiman, Community High School |
| 2005: | Fall - Bridgette Toombs, Immokalee High School Winter - Jose Arias, Gulf Coast High School Spring - Robert Lamurri, Naples High School |
| 2006: | Fall - Mark McGarity, Lely High School Winter - Nick Young, Lely High School Spring - Jeff Rosa, Gulf Coast High School |
| 2007: | Fall - Carl Kolling, Lely High School Winter - Tiffany Merchant, Palmetto Ridge High School Spring - Joe Manento, Gulf Coast High School |
| 2008: | Fall - John Weber, Immokalee High School Winter - Bill Carufe, The Community School Spring - Pete Garcia, Palmetto Ridge High School |
| 2009: | Fall - Frank Tudryn, Gulf Coast High School Winter - Don Stewart, Lely High School Spring - Bob Smith, Golden Gate High School |
| 2010: | Fall - Rich Haralson of Naples High School Winter - Dwight Morgan of Golden Gate High School Spring - Kim Butts of Palmetto Ridge High School |
| 2011: | Fall - Dan Newbrough of Palmetto Ridge High School Winter - Rob Schank of Lely High School Spring - Chris Claussen of Barron Collier High School |
Jose Soto, Public Affairs Specialist, (305) 458-3935
Michal Brower, Media Specialist, (863) 318-3088
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