TOMMY SOMMERS 

Get Back Up Award:

We honor the skater Tommy Sommers every year, since 2011, by awarding the "Get Back Up" award. Please help us to find wonderful nominees every year to continue to reward those dedicated skaters who keep getting back up when life knocks them down. Great Roll Models deserve recognition, and if there is someone out there that has inspired you by persisting through adversity in their skating career, we suggest that you nominate them for this award. Nominees have come from Park 'n Roll participants (and the skating community) who submit the story of a skater who "got back up again" and continued their skating career, inspiring others in the sport and reminding us not to give up. Never never never give up.

Written on the award:

In the spirit of Tommy Sommers, who sustained enough skating injuries to fill a book, but kept skating anyway, we present this award as a reminder that you “may be knocked down, but not out forever”.  (Lyrics  from the song "Get Back Up" by Toby Mac)

Nominations can be submitted any time of the year, however we will lock down submissions during review time before a national championship so that the previous year's nominees can be reviewed by the committee. Thank you for helping us spread the word! Please share this form and posts with your friends!

For an inspiring playlist, try out the one we made here: Spotify Playlist "Skating Get Back Up Award" 

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SUBMIT YOUR NOMINEES HERE:
Nominee Submission Form

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Archive of past GBU Award Recipients:

2023 Awards:
Hannah Porto, who was on the path to success when in April of 2022 at LOL she had a fall that left her with a brain injury and would have been worse if not for her helmet that she broke in two, but worked hard with her coach and doctors to find a way to return to the rink and trained her way back to American Championships.
Eric Rolf, an individual that above all has an outgoing and energetic personality and has a love for anything on wheels.  He came back to skating after a cancer diagnosis, but he has made it a mission to fight every day to love what he does and cherish those around him with every waking moment and fiber of his being.  He continues to push through any adversity that stands in his way, even pushing through exhaustion, partial paralysis, vertigo or pain.  No excuse kept him from being the most motivated individual in the room. Eric had been through more than words can describe, but kept pushing himself to be his best and enjoy every moment on his skates and in life. We would all be better if we loved and cherished life and the sport as he does.  His passion for the sport was only surpassed by the love of his family. 

2022 Awards: no nominees

2021 Awards:
Natalie Davis, who busted her chin on a fall, ended up with stitches and kept skating and is known for her amazing sportsmanship and postitive attitude towards everyone.
Alan Marcossen,  as Tommy would do, had influence both on and off the floor and always supporting and encouraging others in physical and monetary ways. He supported in all ways he could, putting his money where his mouth was (when there wasn't a twinkie in it) and always supporting other skaters. Even though he was supposed to be recovering from surgery, he just couldn't stay away from the rink.

2020 Awards:
Arya Sullivan, who fell skating outdoors and knocked out 2 teeth and chipped 2 others, and was still up and skating the very next day.
Dennis Biddle, for undergoing multiple surgeries, including a new hip, and returning to the rink to rehabilitate.

2019 Awards:
Alicia McBride, for having her wrist broken twice and still coming back to compete at nationals along with her determination for the sport.
Nolan Polewchak, for getting injured from a fall at a meet, and coming back to practices to cheer on his twin sister when he could not skate (but healed in time to skate the Park 'n Roll).

2018 Awards:
Gaby Guentensberger, for being confronted with multiple medical issues and still coming back to practice to assist her fellow skaters, even on the way home from Surgery.
Roger Olsen, for his passion for skating, even through numerous injuries and accidents, fighting through rehabilitation to come back to skating even stronger and out performing expectations while still continuing to support and cheer on his fellow skaters even if it has to be from the sidelines.

2017 Awards: no nominees

2016 Awards: no nominees

2015 Awards:
Danny Crimm, for getting back on his skates when everything (even doctors) told him he would never skate again, and spending the following years contributing to the growth of skaters around him.

2014 Awards:
Shawna Strautnieks, for receiving MVP at her first bout after returning to skating from a broken ankle.
Chad Harris, for returning to speed skating after breaking both legs in multiple places the previous year.

2013 Award:
Trisha Kaufman - for falling hard during an outdoor competition but making it across the line with the assistance of Park 'n Roll skater Christine Numerick.

2012 Award:
Rachel Adkins - for training and competing through a knee injury and successfully placing at Nationals.

2011: First annual Park 'n Roll, no award given. This year honors Tom Sommers for his attendance at the event.