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The Montgomery County Sports Advisory Committee is accepting nominations for its third annual Unsung Sports Hero Award. This honor recognizes those who have made significant contributions in expanding sports participation in the County, particularly among underserved communities.
“Every successful athlete has a team of people behind them who give their time, encouragement, and support, often without asking for recognition,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “The Unsung Sports Hero Award gives us an opportunity to shine a light on these individuals and celebrate the difference they make in the lives of athletes and our community. I encourage residents to nominate the coaches, mentors, volunteers, advocates, and other sports champions whose contributions may happen behind the scenes, but whose impact is felt far beyond the playing field.”
Nominees may include organizations, athletes, coaches, officials, administrators, parents, donors, groundskeepers, or anyone else whose efforts deserve recognition for making sports accessible in the County.
“Sports have the power to inspire, connect, and help young people discover their confidence and potential,” said Montgomery County Recreation Director Gabe Albornoz. “But those opportunities don’t happen without the dedicated people who give their time, energy, and heart to support our athletes. The Unsung Sports Hero Award is our chance to recognize the leaders who go above and beyond to make sports a positive and meaningful experience, so nominate your unsung sports hero and help us celebrate the champions who make our sports community stronger!”
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To nominate a deserving individual or organization, submit your nomination here. The nomination period will be open until Saturday, Oct. 31.
“Youth and community sports thrive because of the dedicated volunteers who give their time, passion and energy to help others succeed,” said Committee Chair Tom Cove. “The Sports Advisory Committee is proud to recognize these individuals whose commitment and generosity make a lasting difference, creating meaningful opportunities for County residents to participate, grow and experience the joy of sports.”
Award recipients will be selected by the Montgomery County Sports Advisory Committee and will be honored at the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Celebration on Sunday, Feb. 28, 2027, at the Silver Spring Civic Building at Veterans Plaza.
Last Year’s Unsung Sports Heroes
Sarah Albus
Sarah Albus, a lifelong athlete, coach, and mother of four, has transformed access to sports for children with disabilities in Montgomery County. Her nonprofit, Open Door Sports (ODS), is built on a simple but powerful idea inspired by her daughter: every child deserves the chance to be an athlete, regardless of disability.
In spring 2017, she launched Open Door Sports as an after-school program at a county elementary school. Today, ODS serves about 750 players each year, supported by 850 peer buddies, through programs that include soccer, basketball, bocce, tennis, and yoga. In 2021, Albus made ODS completely free for participants, removing a financial barrier that can put organized sports out of reach for lower-income families.
HAYA: Hoop As You Are
Mary Figueroa and Amani Echols founded Hoop As You Are (HAYA), frustrated by male-dominated pickup games in Montgomery County, where women and LGBTQIA+ players were routinely sidelined or undervalued. Both had played organized basketball growing up, Amani in Los Angeles, Mary in Michigan, before rediscovering the sport after meeting in graduate school. With support from Montgomery County Recreation, which supplied gym space, uniforms, scorekeepers, and certified women referees, they built a real, competitive league that drew more than 60 players from Maryland, D.C., and Virginia in its 2025 debut season. Beyond the competition, HAYA has built a family-centered community with bleachers full of partners, kids, and players returning to the sport for the first time since high school.
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Eric Moreno
Eric Moreno grew up in Montgomery County surrounded by immigrant families, the son of a father who had immigrated from Mexico, and after college, he came back to invest in that same community. As soccer program manager at Impact Silver Spring, he leads recreational and travel teams in Glenmont and Wheaton. Low fees, bilingual coaches, and English Spanish communication remove the financial and language barriers that often keep immigrant kids off the field, while practices at neighborhood fields keep them convenient.
Equally important to Moreno is mentoring. He sees himself as a trusted adult for boys entering adolescence, many of whom come from single-parent households or homes where parents work long, irregular hours. He and his coaches build in respect, discipline, and how to handle losing, while partner organizations bring resources on education, immigrant rights, and tax help straight to parents at the field.
The Montgomery County Sports Advisory Committee studies sports participation and opportunities in the County and makes recommendations to the County Executive and the Montgomery County Council.
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Read the original article at mcgov
