The Western Region Merit Award

Formerly The Rich Slingerland Memorial Award

Every year since 1975 the Western Region has recognized a member or an official who epitomized friendship, dedication with integrity. The first award was presented at the US National tournament and is now one of the Western Region’s most prestigious honors. This award was established and is maintained for a deserving person who might otherwise go unnoticed.

All Western Region members are welcome & encouraged to submit nominations for this award to their local councilperson or to Larry Laughlin prior to the Regional tournament.

Past Award Recipients
1975 Rocky Matranga 1976 Sam Plough 1977 Don Strategier
1978 Gary Eaton 1979 Danny Roy 1980 Sam Plough
1981 Brian Hockenbery 1982 Lori Lauszus 1983 Sally Mecham
1984 Mike Steel 1985 Gaile Heieck 1986 Trish Warren
1987 Mike Yates 1988 Jack Wilson 1989 Bob Cosby
1990 Phil Adams 1991 Barbara Canfield 1992 Kathy Gibson
1993 Andrea Plough 1994 Janice & Kent Garrett 1995 Mike Hayes
1996 Norm Wingerd 1997 Don Strategier 1998 Leora & John Matranga
1999 Lucie & John Goodman 2000 Phil Yastrow 2001 Dee & Laura Johnson
2002 Wayne Canfield 2003 Randy Hocking 2004 Merle Vasbinder
2005 Carol Boice 2006 Jeff Gaastra 2007 Tom Mecham
2008 Larry Goodwin 2009 Laura Johnson 2010 TC Boice
2011 Don and Judy Stanford 2012 Frank Harrison 2013 Jack Hanna
2014 Richelle Matli 2015 Gail Heinrich  2016 Tad Scharpf
2017 Will and Elaine Bush 2018 Barry Young 2019 Connie Bergmark
2020 Russ Selsor 2021 Bob Hardeman 2022 Greg Badal

Outstanding Official – Western Regional Water Ski Championships

Formerly The Don Koppert Memorial Award

This honor is presented at the Western Regional Water Ski Championships each year to an official who has shown to be extremely hard working and dedicated. Other officials volunteering at the tournament make the selection.

Past Award Recipients
1991 John Reid Family 1992 John Goodman 1993 Gaile Heieck
1994 Lynne Koppert McKean & Jason Koppert 1995 Don Strategier 1996 The Mecham Family
1997 Deb Brodzinski 1998 Richelle Matli 1999 Robert Jardon
2000 Brian Holm 2001 Scott Vanderflute 2002 Carl Pugh
2003 Phil Yastrow 2004 Joe Biafora 2005 Ron & Rhonda Warman
2006 Don Strategier 2007 Heather Heieck 2008 Cathy Vanderflute
2009 Scott Milewski 2010 Janie Fausold 2011 Mike Martens
2012 Debbie Badal & Sally Mecham 2013 Greg Badal 2014 Tim Vaio
2015 Sam Lee 2016 Brandy Nagle 2017 Judy Stanford
2018 Lars Hedegaard 2019 Jeff Thomas 2020 Tim Vaio
2021 Brian O’Keefe 2022 Janie Fausold

Award of Distinction