Honorees

Donald F. Duncan Family Award for Industry Excellence

Awarded annually to an individual for quality innovation, production, or promotion that advances the quality of the sport.

• 1998 – Tom Kuhn
• 1999 – Alan Amaral
• 2000 – Brad Countryman
• 2001 – Dale & Valerie Oliver
• 2002 – Dale Bell
• 2003 – Greg Cohen
• 2004 – Steve Brown
• 2005 – Hans Van Dan Elzen
• 2006 – Frank Difeo
• 2007 – Mike Burke
• 2008 – Valerie Aaron
• 2009 – Ben McPhee
• 2010 – Steve Buffel

National Acheivement Award

Awarded annually to the person who’s effort successfully improves the sport and positively influences the industry.

• 1998 – Stuart Crump
• 1999 – Don Watson
• 2000 – Cliff Coleman
• 2001 – Richy Nye
• 2002 – John Stangle
• 2003 – Lucky Meisenheimer
• 2004 – Dick Stohr
• 2005 – Mo Chavez
• 2006 – Eric Wolff
• 2007 – David Capurro
• 2008 – André Boulay
• 2009 – Stu Branoff
• 2010 – Chris Allen

National League Merit Award

Awarded annually to the indivudual who best serves and supports the National Yo-Yo League as a contest promotor or facilitator.

• 2003 – Thad Winzenz
• 2004 – Dave Schulte
• 2005 – Dave Bazan
• 2006 – Joe Mitchell
• 2007 – Jack Finn
• 2008 – Nathan Crissey
• 2009 – Mark McBride
• 2010 – Maloney Family

Mark Sitton Sportsmanship Award

Awarded annually to the person who exemplifies the best insportsmanship and aids others to learn these qualities.

• 1998 – Hans Van Dan Elzen
• 1999 – Paul Buethe
• 2000 – Dave Schulte
• 2001 – Dave Bazan
• 2002 – Paul Han
• 2003 – Patrick Mitchell
• 2004 – Adam Dennehy
• 2005 – Andre Boulay
• 2006 – Takeshi Kamisato
• 2007 – Nathan Crissey
• 2008 – Augie Fash
• 2009 – Alex Berenguel
• 2010 – Paul Yath

Best Junior Player Award

Awarded annually to the highest placing player 12 years old or younger in a Championship Division.

• 2001 – Alexander Jacobs
• 2002 – Ross Yonomine
• 2003 – Michael O’Connell
• 2004 – John Narum
• 2005 – John Narum
• 2006 – Grant Johnson
• 2007 – Grant Johnson
• 2008 – Not presented
• 2009 – Gavin Lent
• 2010 – Alex Hattori

Best Girl Player Award

Awarded annually to the highest placing female player in a Championship Division.

• 2001 – Jennifer Kouri & Nana Sakamoto
• 2002 – not presented
• 2003 – Sharyn Miyaji
• 2004 – Mina Tanikawa
• 2005 – Farrah Siegel
• 2006 – Farrah Siegel
• 2007 – Farrah Siegel
• 2008 – not presented
• 2009 – Ann Connolly
• 2010 – Ann Connolly

Trick Innovator of the Year Award

Awarded by past recipients to an important developer of creative and influential new tricks.

• 2001 – Doctor Popular
• 2002 – Paul Escolar
• 2003 – Johnnie DelValle
• 2004 – Jason Lee
• 2005 – Yuuki Spencer
• 2006 – Jesse Garcia
• 2007 – Jake Bullock & Jon Robinson
• 2008 – John Ando
• 2009 – not presented
• 2010 – Jensen Kimmitt

Most Inspirational Player Award

Conferred annually by the judges to the individual who proves an inspiration in the contest.

• 2001 – Jennifer Kouri
• 2002 – David Noonan
• 2003 – Rob Kitts
• 2004 – John Bozung
• 2005 – Yoshi Mikamoto
• 2006 – Joseph Harris
• 2007 – Bryan Figueroa
• 2008 – Andrew Bergen
• 2009 – Patrick Mitchell
• 2010 – Colin Leland

National Spintop Champions

• 2000 – Herman Lau
• 2001 – Dave Bazan
• 2002 – Jon Gates
• 2003 – Miguel Correa
• 2004 – Matt Ritter
• 2005 – Jon Gates
• 2006 – Dave Bazan
• 2007 – Jon Gates
• 2008 – Jorgé Alcoz
• 2009 – Darren Kim
• 2010 – Darren Kim