A sportsman or sportswoman is defined as someone who exemplifies sportsmanship on the disc golf course, observes the rules of play, and wins or loses with grace. The following candidates were nominated by PDGA members for acts of sportsmanship during 2020. 

Derek Sahr #39552

Twenty-six nominations by Peter Haugen, Logan Utter, Dylan Schmidt, Michael Cosens, Ben Hartman, Jeremy Sneeden, Andy Cassioppi, Ben Kroll, Shane Melton, Nick Schumacher, Joseph Ikier, Raven Klein, Janet Henke, Kara Henke, Barbara Sahr, Drew Kathman, Daniel Bounds, Taylor Nelson, Ben Neidecker, Madison Hults, Deryck Lawson, Cam Uthe, James Klimek, Ryan Hartman, Nick Hanson, Tony Hyser

Derek is a great guy, a great disc golfer, and a great advocate for sportsmanship. He also happens to be one of the best commentators in the game (1100 rated).

He's awesome and gives so much back to the DG community.

He was kind to me when I first met him. He encourages players and people to get better. He deserves something for that!

When I wanted to get started playing competitively I posted to a local twin cities disc golf group asking for someone to help me get started competitively.  Derek volunteered, etc me at a course 1/2 way between our homes and played a full round with me giving me tips and pointers along the way.  Then he continued to help me and guide me to get better.  He continues to assist me and help with questions whenever I ask. I have also seen him volunteer for this over and over, so who knows how many people he has helped and continues to influence in a positive.  He is a great ambassador to the sport and really deserves this award.

Awesome guy

Derek is the most thoughtful and caring person to be around.  He is so quick to hand out a compliment, yet handles a compliment from someone else by giving them a compliment back.  He is always having fun on the course and at the end of the day, that's what this sport is all about!

He more than deserves this award. He’s a staple in our community and his commentary on ParSave videos is up there with the best. His professionalism speaks for itself.

Great player, great commentary for ParSaveProductions, and an overall great guy.

Derek is and has always been a guy that wants you to play the best you can. The times I have played with Derek have been great and he is genuinely happy no matter how his round is going.

No matter what kind of round you are having it he is having, he is always supportive and cheerful on the course, and if he sees you around or off the course he’s just as friendly and welcoming. He is one of the first people I met in my local disc golf community and he’s supportive to me personally the entire time. He really does deserve this award.

Derek has donated a basket and several discs to Keystone Treatment Center in Canton, SD. Patients from 13 years through adults are awhile to get exercise and fresh air while working on their sobriety. Derek has also spent many hours teaching kids in Sioux Falls, SD how to disc golf. He is a wonderful role model for students.

Derek Sahr is not only an amazing sportsman, he loves giving his time! He has donated disc golf supplies to Keystone Treatment Center and has also taken time to visit schools in Sioux Falls to teach them about the intense but fun game of disc golf

My husband Derek is the most deserving person for this award. In the 5+ years that we have been together, I have seen firsthand how much disc golf means to him, and how much he means to the disc golf community. On one of our first dates, Derek took me to Spencer Park in Sioux Falls, SD to introduce me to the sport. While there, I met Garett Everson who at the time, was still new to disc golf. Garett’s mother was there and let me know that Derek had been working with Garett to help him get better at disc golf for the past 2 years – even giving Garett his first disc golf bag.

Derek is so passionate about disc golf and how it can positively impact the lives of its participants that he has donated his own disc golf basket to the Canton, SD Keystone Treatment Center to the adolescent boy’s unit helped build a course in his hometown. He has also volunteered his time and talents at a variety of schools in Sioux Falls and the Boys and Girls Club of the Sioux Empire. Now living in Minneapolis, Derek is still focused on giving back to the community through disc golf by giving free lessons to anyone that shows interest as well as voluntarily providing commentary to ParSave Productions to help establish the sport as a serious and professional sport.

Derek plays every round with a smile on his face no matter how his round is going. He offers words of support to his card mates whether they are a long-time friend or someone he is meeting for the first time. Jordan Castro, Simon Lizotte, Eric Oakley, and Eagle McMahon are just a few of the many people who can speak to Derek’s sportsmanship and giving heart.

His passion for disc golf began in middle school, over 15 years ago, when his father would take him disc golfing throughout the Midwest. It became something that bonds the two of them even to this day. His father, Dan, is now proud to caddy for Derek whenever he can and could not be more proud of Derek as he has taken disc golf from a hobby to a passion. Derek has so many people that are cheering him on at each event. From me to his parents and in-laws, his friends and competitors, and his sponsors at Innova – he represents the sport in a positive way every single day."

This guy has been a long-time friend. We met through disc golf. His passion is unbelievable, and I can't even begin to describe how friendly,  approachable, and all-around great a person to be with and know.

Derek has been a positive light on the disc golf course for as long as I have known him. We have quite a significant skill gap, but he has always been constructive, helpful, and kind in passing. I think he is a perfect player to nominate for this award!

Derek is a pillar of the MN disc golf community, and has a reputation for being, in addition to a great player, one of the nicest and most positive people in the sport. When I met him for the first time, I was surprised at how welcoming and positive he was despite having heard his reputation, and within a few minutes of meeting him, he invited me to play along in a practice round. Being a newer player, I was understandably intimidated to play with one of MN's highest-rated players, but the entire experience was anything but intimidating. After that round, he encouraged me to stay in In touch and we have played several more times and become friends. The thing is, though, is that my story isn't unique; almost everyone I know that has met Derek has a similar story. He goes out of his way to make everyone he meets and plays with feel included and welcomed in the disc golf community regardless of skill level or experience. On top of all of this, he has stepped up in the past few years doing commentary on YouTube for Par Save productions and has brought this positivity and encouragement to post-produced coverage, which represents our sport in the best possible light to thousands of people.

I have watched local Minnesota coverage on YouTube and have always enjoyed his commentary. Through a buddy, I had the pleasure of playing around with him. He was very humble and offered a few tips. After the round he suggested a disc that I throw and even sold me one out of his personal collection. He is a positive influence on all things disc golf and sets the standard.

Derek has shown amazing leadership and dedication in his Disc Golf career and the furthering of the love of this sport for others. He donated his disc golf basket and a variety of disks to Keystone Treatment Center - a treatment center for substance abuse & alcohol addiction for youths and adults. Derek has volunteered at multiple schools in the Sioux Falls SD area to teach kids Disc Golf. Derek practices his craft frequently and has always shown the highest level of sportsmanship in competitions. He has been involved in the sport since middle school, and it has been his biggest passion the whole time I've known him. His kindness goes far beyond Disc Golf, and everyone in his life loves being around Derek.

Derek Sahr is always nothing but smiles and positivity on the course. His attitude and love for the game are infectious and it’s always an absolute pleasure to see him out on the course. I wouldn’t be the disc golfer I am today had I never met Derek just this past season. I couldn’t think of anyone more deserving.
Derek is one of the kindest professional’s out there.  He is willing to teach and talk with any player regardless of skill level. The fact that he shreds courses but doesn’t boast or brag is a reason he’s beloved in the Midwest disc golf scene.

One of the more genuinely kind, encouraging people I have met in my disc golf career! This guy will treat you like family from the moment you shake hands! Anyone and everyone who has ever played a round with Derek would agree that there is no one more encouraging and genuinely excited about his card mates playing well and enjoying the round no matter the scores!
I couldn't nominate a better candidate than Derek Sahr!"

He deserves this!

No one is more deserving.

My friend Derek Sahr is probably the nicest, most welcoming human you will ever have the pleasure to meet. I joined the PDGA and the competitive disc golf scene in the spring of 2020. I met Derek through a mutual friend a couple of months into the journey and I have to say I may have only known him for about a year now, but it feels like he’s been my friend for a lifetime.

He took our group of 3 under his wing and has continued to teach us SO much about not only form & mechanics, but I’d say the most valuable thing I’ve gained from my time playing Derek is the wisdom in how he approaches the mental side of this game we all love so much.

His favorite quote is something his dad used to say to him a lot growing up “You’re not allowed to say you had a bad day of disc golf until the day is completely over.” It was Derek that taught me I can have a terrible front 9 and still turn it around and bring it all back on the back 9. It was Derek that taught me that when your feeling like your round is shot and all hope is lost, rather than giving up and going for big dumb shots, keep fighting and keep trying your best on every shot and try to at least snag that last cash spot. And I have successfully snagged that last cash spot many times now because of that lesson he taught me. 

I promise you will NEVER see Derek mad or upset on the disc golf course EVER. No matter how good or bad he is shooting that day, he is always an absolute pleasure to be around cracking jokes and making friends everywhere he turns. You can’t play a round with him without him running into someone he knows a couple of fairways away and giving him a few minutes to catch up with all of his buddies.

If you’re looking to honor a man who has been growing the game for 20+ years by not only introducing new people to the sport but actually sharing all of his knowledge about the game without ever asking for a single thing in return, Derek Sahr is absolutely your guy. 

He is THE definition of sportsmanship on the course and I can’t think of a better role model to learn from and grow from myself. I’m always learning new things every time I play with him. I know that this Award would mean more to him than any tournament win because he genuinely knows that the most important thing in life is family, friends, and relationships and he builds those literally everywhere he goes.

It was a pleasure to have the honor to nominate my friend Derek for such an honorable award. Thank you to the PDGA for giving me the opportunity to speak on his behalf!

If you’re looking for any further follow-up info on Derek please don’t hesitate to reach out! I’d be happy to help in any way I can because I know if anyone deserves this recognition, it’s Derek. And I hope I can convince you to agree with me.

Paul Ulibarri #27171

Three nominations by Joseph Chargualaf, Mike Downes, Rachael Meckl

Always supportive and respectful to players and TDs. 

Class act and all around positive attitude on and off the course... year after year. He's overdue for this.

Great disc golfer on and off the course.

Ricky Wysocki #38008

Two nominations by Ean Bates, Dustin Schneider

Ricky has been seen on and off the course brightening everyone's day, he upholds all rules, and when he feels like there is a violation he makes players known in a calm and polite manner. Even in tough times Ricky shows and plays through it not letting it show in his game or in his feelings towards others on and off the course.

Always displays high spirits on the course even though the toughest times during each tournament.

Mikey Seibert #125079

Two nominations by Louis Evans IV, Justin Niedecken

I have dubbed him the "Nicest Person In Disc Golf." Not only does he help grow the sport in a positive and helpful way, but I have witnessed his generosity personally. I have seen him give discs out of his tournament bag to give to a parent and child to introduce the sport to them. This was in between the first round and second round of a tournament we played together in. I have witnessed him carry a bag for a pro that needed it last minute and while he was lucky I was there with a golf cart, he volunteered to go back up to the pro shop to get a few supplies for disc golfers while they played. He is just a very nice person and spends his days learning disc golf to not only get better himself but honestly to also help others get better. His passion for Disc Golf and the disc golf community is second to none. Ask anyone and they will agree. Mikey deserves this award and the title of the Nicest Person in Disc Golf.

Mikey's character played a significant role on and off the course. His magnetic personality has helped me re-enter the sport and revive a passion to play. Mikey has been a North Houston player/ambassador along with being a role model for new players helping them choose the right discs for their bag and bringing in good habits on coaching their form. Mikey has been awarded the nicest guy in disc golf award for the past 2 years in our local club in North Houston and can always approach him easily for advice on and off the course!