Mountain Rec Honors Volunteers, Awards Volunteer of the Year at Annual Appreciation Dinner

Mountain Recreation hosted its annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner on Saturday, March 22. The event recognized its 224 volunteer coaches for their dedication to the success of Mountain Rec’s sports leagues, rock climbing, ice hockey, and other programs.  

According to Mountain Rec’s Superintendent of Recreation Programs, Anna Englehart, volunteers contributed over 4,500 hours to the community. 

“We continue to grow our offerings to the community,” Englehart said. “Our volunteers are the backbone of our programs, ensuring accessibility and high-quality experiences for all. Every volunteer makes a difference, especially for our youth participants.”  

Hosted at 4-Eagle Ranch and sponsored by ANB Bank, the event celebrated volunteers with service ranging from one season to 10 years, including many who volunteer year-round.  

2024 Volunteer of the Year

Edwards resident Sasha Willimann was named 2024 Volunteer of the Year for his year-round commitment to coaching. His dedication to youth development and sportsmanship has made a significant impact on the community. Craig Wilmers and Suzy Skinner were also finalists for the award. The community nominated 19 volunteers for this recognition. 

Meet the 2024 Volunteer of the Year Finalists
Sasha Willimann

For Sasha Willimann, coaching at Mountain Rec has become more than just a volunteer role — it’s a way of life. An executive at a technology company and a father of two boys, Sasha has called Edwards home for four years. He’s a lifelong sports enthusiast who’s been skiing Vail’s slopes since childhood and found his way to coaching when his boys joined Mountain Rec soccer and basketball.  

“Matt Kreutzer asked if I could help, and I said sure! The boys loved it, and I realized I enjoyed coaching too.”  

Now, you can find Sasha on the field or court nearly year-round, coaching fall soccer, winter basketball, and spring soccer. His coaching philosophy emphasizes hard work, good sportsmanship and teamwork, all while staying competitive. “We always have to practice and try hard. Be good sports. Be good teammates. Try to win and do our best.” 

What keeps him going? The joy of watching kids grow and improve, especially those who gain confidence to take the shot or make a play. “I love it. I laugh my tail off at most practices.” Coaching isn’t just giving back to the community, for Sasha it’s a family affair and a passion. 

Craig Wilmers

Craig Wilmers has been part of Mountain Rec for as long as he can remember, back when it was still WECMRD and he was a young kid playing T-ball in a WECMRD hat. Now a Fleet Manager for the Town of Avon, Craig lives in Gypsum with his wife, three kids and a puppy. His family loves spending time outdoors, camping, fishing and playing and coaching sports.  

Twelve years ago, when no one else stepped up to coach his child’s team, Craig volunteered and he’s been hooked ever since. He’s coached baseball, basketball, football and softball for over a decade. “If I can coach, I will,” he says. His core coaching philosophy is simple but impactful: have fun, be a good teammate, grow as a player and person, learn lifelong lessons and listen to each other and work together. 

For Craig, the greatest reward is watching his kids and the kids he coaches grow and improve from the first practice to the final game. “Seeing the light bulb click is the best part,” he shares. And when a now-grown player greets him years later with a “Hey Coach,”  he knows he’s made a lasting difference.  

Suzy Skinner

According to Suzy Skinner, coaching is about creating opportunities for kids to play, learn and grow. A Gypsum native and Registrar at Eagle Valley High School, Suzy has been coaching with Mountain Rec for five years — ever since her daughter started playing sports. Whether it’s softball, basketball or soccer, Suzy is there to make sure every child has fun and feels part of the team.  

Suzy grew up playing sports herself and was inspired by her mother, who also coached softball. “We want kids to be active, to have fun and to learn important lessons like how to be passionate but keep a good attitude,” she says. Her motto, “fix your face,” reminds players to take a breath, shake off mistakes and move on. 

The most rewarding part for Suzy is watching kids grow throughout the season, both in skills and confidence. “It’s amazing to see that transformation from the first practice to the last game,” she shares. Although balancing work, family and coaching can be a blur, Suzy says she loves coaching. It keeps her and her family running around, but it’s worth every second. 

A heartfelt Thank You to Volunteers
“We can’t thank our volunteers enough,” Englehart said. “Our volunteers are the heart and soul of Mountain Rec. Because of them, kids in our community gain confidence, build friendships and create lifelong memories. Thank you.”