Sin City Classic 2022

2022 SIN CITY CLASSIC $3.95 • COMPETENETWORK.COM

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WELCOME Welcome to the 15th Annual Sin City Classic Sports Festival, the largest annual LGBTQ+ sporting event in the world. We are so excited to welcome everyone back to Las Vegas after two long years and have been busy planning and preparing for this year’s event.

Last year, with our presenting sponsor Lexus, the Sin City Classic hosted Cornhole for the Community in Los Angeles and Dallas with help from our great partners, Varsity Gay League and Dallas 2022 Gay Softball World Series. This year we are all back in Las Vegas, with the exception of Ken Scearce, the Executive Director of the Sin City Classic from 2017 to 2021. Ken’s shoes are difficult to fill but his wise leadership has prepared our amazing team to carry on Sin City’s legacy.

To honor Ken’s memory, we have created the annual Ken Scearce Leadership Award. The inaugural award will be presented at this year’s opening party. Additionally, the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance (NAGAAA) has launched the Ken Scearce Scholarship Fund to help support recipients with higher education assistance. This year’s Cornhole for Charity event supports that fund.

The Sin City Classic continues to grow. This year, the 50th Anniversary of Title IX, a record number of women’s events grace the Sin City Classic, including basketball, dodgeball, kickball, soccer, softball and volleyball. Quidditch also joins us to make 25 Sin City Classic sports, although only 19 will be active this year as six have paused due to COVID-19.

Speaking of COVID-19, each of our sports has a dedicated COVID-19 policy in place to ensure the safest possible experience for everyone attending the Sin City Classic.

This welcomes you back to participate in a safe, fun and competitive way.

We are so grateful to all of our sponsors and partners and we’d like to offer special thanks to our presenting sponsor Lexus, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Piranha Nightclub, our partner sport leaders, and all of our sponsors and volunteers—and YOU. We are grateful that you have chosen to spend your MLK weekend with us.

Sincerely,

Larry Ruiz

Dr. Jason Peplinksi

Larry Ruiz Co-Executive Director

Dr. Jason Peplinksi Co-Executive Director

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Good luck to all Phoenix area teams attending the 15th Sin City Classic!

DIRECTORY

SPECIAL THANKS TO OURSpectrum LOCAL Medical GUIDE PARTNERS congratulates you for participating in the largest annual LGBTQ+ sporting event in the world.

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WELCOME..............................................................8 CATBIRD SEAT.....................................................12 NEW SPORTS: QUIDDITCH....................................14 ROSALYN "ROS" BUGG.........................................18 KICKBALL............................................................20 DODGEBALL.........................................................21 SOCCER...............................................................22 VOLLEYBALL.......................................................23 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS.........................................24 SIN CITY SPONSORS.............................................25 VOLUNTEER AWARD............................................30

PUBLISHER/CEO Eric Carlyle • eric@competesportsdiversity.com COMPETE SPORTS DIVERSITY Editor-in- Chief Connie Wardman • connie@competesportsdiversity.com Managing Editor Dirk Smith • dirk@competesportsdiversity.com Vice President, Marketing Jared Garduno • jared@competesportsdiversity.com Art Director Heather Brown • heather@competesportsdiversity.com Director of Sales and Partnerships Trayer Martinez • trayer@competesportsdiversity.com Copyright © 2022 MEDIA OUT LOUD, LLC All Rights Reserved.

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• (800) 489-1274 Compete is a trademark of Media Out Loud, LLC

KEN SCEARCE......................................................34 COMPETE SPORTS DIVERSITY AWARDS................36 10 COMPETE 2022 Sin City Classic Sports Festival

Subscribe to Compete Magazine online at CompeteNetwork.com

12/2

FROM THE CATBIRD SEAT

WELCOME BACK – ESPECIALLY THE LADIES! Welcome back to the 15th Annual Sin City Classic (SCC) to all of you able to return following last year’s pandemic cancellation! And to all of you SCC newbies, welcome to the world’s largest (and most fun) annual LGBTQ+ sporting event in the world. Coming to an SCC is a blast – like a family reunion on steroids but with only the relatives you like, and events and parties you actually want to attend! It’s not only fun, it’s also addictive!

I began to cover this event for Compete Magazine in its early years and I’ve watched it grow every year. Like I said, it’s addictive. But for a very long time it was almost exclusively male athletes. If you saw any females, they tended to be friends who came along to be part of the fun atmosphere. Yes, it’s about fun and friendships but it’s also about supporting all athletes wanting to play.

One of the exciting developments this year, then, is the big increase in women’s teams that are participating. It’s also the 50th Anniversary of Title IX, the federal legislation that was supposed to end discrimination of the basis of sex.

Compete Magazine and the Compete Sports Diversity Council have dedicated 2022 as the year of Making Diversity the New Normal. We’ll be looking at Title IX in a variety of ways. Primarily, we would like to hear from the women athletes attending the SCC about your high school or college experiences as a result of Title IX. Please send a short 200-250-word synopsis of your experience along with your name, email address and phone number to TitleIX@competenetwork.com.

Like everyone else who knew him, I deeply miss Ken Scearce even though I only had minimal contact with him at the SCCs. Somehow, he had the uncanny ability to immediately touch peoples’ hearts. The new Ken Scearce Leadership Award has been created by GLASA, his home city softball affiliation, to honor him. No one could be more worthy of such an award. I hope you won’t miss its inaugural presentation at the Opening Night Party on Friday night.

Connie Wardman (she, her, hers), M.A., SDLT connie@competesportsdiversity.com @CompeteConnie

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LAS VEGAS

CLASSIC

S O F T B A L L TO U R N A M E N T

EARLY FALL 2022 VEGASNEONCLASSIC.COM

SCCSF NEW SPORTS

STICKING THE COMPETITION

BY DIRK SMITH, M.SC, SDL (HE/HIM)

Your Name and Sport & Organization: My name is Mary Kimball and I’m the executive director of US Quidditch (USQ). I supervise all our events and programs, focusing especially on fundraising, finances and strategic planning.

What’s your history with the sport? Have you been primarily an athlete, coach, organizer, or?

I’ve primarily been an organizer. Prior to joining USQ, I worked in the arts and culture sector in Southern California on events of all shapes and sizes. Starting at USQ as a part time events manager in January 2015, I became full time after our national championship that April. I’ve been working my way up ever since! I’m also an athlete. Mostly I’ve played in summer fantasy tournaments but I am excited to be competing with my quidditch team this weekend!

How many years have you participated in the Sin City Classic (SCC)?

It’s our first year at the Sin City Classic.

How did you get involved with the SCC? We were brought in through the folks at Compete Sports Diversity. Jake Mason, Eric Carlyle and Jared Garduno gently nudged us for months to get involved. When we were finally able to meet with Ken Scearce earlier in 2021, it was clear that the Sin City Classic would be a perfect fit for our sport. Ken was so supportive of getting us involved, and I hope we can do his legacy proud as the event’s 25th sport.

What are you most looking forward to at your first SCC? I can’t wait to talk to more athletes from different sports!

What does Sports Diversity mean to you?

It means creating a safe and supportive experience where athletes of all backgrounds, including all races and genders, can compete together.

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R A B D O BIR G N I M A L F T A k

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Drink specials all weekend with SCC Wristband

Good luck to all Phoenix area teams attending the 15th Sin City Classic!

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ROS BUGG What is your sport? Have you been primarily an athlete, coach, organizer, or??

My name is Rosalyn “Ros” Bugg and I’ve been actively involved in NAGAAA/ ASANA/GLASA softball for over 30 years, as a player, coach and as part of the SCC leadership group. I’ve been the women’s softball director for about 12 of the SCC’s 15 years. I also work with Lucas Mariano on the event’s digital presence and website development.

How did you get involved with (sport/organization)?

I joined GLASA women in 1992, just after the women’s division was established. I’ve been involved with GLASA since then and have held almost every position – from division commissioner to secretary to my current position as the Women’s Commissioner.

What is your favorite Sin City Classic moment?

I have to say that our last event in 2020 was the biggest event we’ve had and that has fond memories for me.

ROSALYN

BUGG

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Women’s+ participation at the SCC has grown over the years.

Please share with us the milestones SCC female participation has reached.

Each year we see more sports and more female athletes participating in all the sports; it’s great to see more women at the event! With the addition of women’s basketball, we’re hoping to add many more women to the mix.

As SCC’s first sport, softball has grown incredibly over the years, starting with 20 teams across three divisions in 2007 and now with 63 women’s’ teams in five divisions in 2020!

ROS BUGG

I’m proud to be a part of this event, and the strides we’ve taken in the past three years were all because of Ken Scearce.

He was a great leader, a good friend and an advocate for women’s+ growth both at the tournament and across the board. I miss him, and I hope we do him proud this year.

What are the goals to increase Women’s+ participation in the next five years?

My goals are to work with the other Women’s+ sports leaders to expand our events to create spaces targeted toward our Women’s+ athletes, spectators and fans in the coming year.

Later this year the country will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of Title IX. How has Title IX personally impacted you?

I’m old enough to know how it impacted me and all the athletes at this event so I’ll just leave it at this – without it, I’m not sure how many of us would have had a chance to participate in team and individual sports at a kid. So the impact is immeasurable Is there anything else you’d like to share?

I’m proud to be a part of this event, and the strides we’ve taken in the past three years were all because of Ken Scearce. He was a great leader, a good friend and an advocate for women’s+ growth both at the tournament and across the board. I miss him, and I hope we do him proud this year.

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KICKBALL

Your Name and Sport & Organization: I’m Will Hackner, founder and CEO of the Varsity Gay League. We are the nation’s first queer+ recreational sports organization.

How many years have you participated in the Sin City Classic (SCC)?

I reached out to the Classic in it’s third year and asked if we could do kickball. It was one of the most exciting experiences we’ve ever had. All of us, strangers united, were hell bent on having the best weekend of our lives, regardless of who won.

Many of us are still friends and competitors today. That was January 2014. Now we have 90 teams from 32 cities and it’s so exciting to meet people I never would have ever met, and all of them are united for fun with a common language of kickball.

What’s your history with the sport? Have you been primarily an athlete, coach, organizer, or?

My history with kickball goes back to 2010 when I founded America’s first queer league in Los Angeles. Kickball was always my favorite game in gym class, going back to when I was six and the kids who could kick the ball and the hit the back wall of the gym would get a home run. I was always too small to make it, but I was obsessed with the game and improving.

What does “Sports Diversity” mean to you?

I can say that being the bullied little boy who couldn’t shoot hoops, couldn’t throw a football, always messed up a set and couldn’t ice skate but who always wanted to prove that he could hang with all the other kids – sports diversity to me is the idea that everyone has a place in sports if the opportunity is created.

Anything else you’d like to share?

Kickball isn’t a kid’s game anymore. It’s evolved just like everything else! Our community is loud, proud, fun and very competitive. It’s also a sport anyone can play, and it isn’t as hard on the body as other sports. So maybe check out kickball in your local city.

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DODGEBALL

Your Name, Sport & Organization: My name is Alexandra Bustamante but I go by either of my nicknames, Ale or DodgeMother. I’m part of Weho Dodgeball.

How many years have you participated in the Sin City Classic: I’ve been enjoying the Classic every year dodgeball has been involved, as both a player and employee. I think this is my ninth Sin City Classic.

What’s your history with the sport? Have you been primarily an athlete, coach, organizer, or?

I stepped onto the Dodgeball court 12 years ago as a mild mannered, curious friend/player, and have since emerged as a captain, a League Manager, a Director of Women’s Dodgeball (ELITE) and I represented Mexico in the World Dodgeball Tournament in 2019.

How did you get involved with your Sport/Organization?

My good friend asked me to join his dodgeball team when his whole softball team wanted to play but needed five women on the team, and I was a friend with the right parts. I had no particular skill in throwing a ball or dodging, but I have never been afraid to try new things. I marched onto the court, immediately got hit, and thought, “That wasn’t so bad.” And Boom, I was hooked. I wanted to play every day of the week and tried to improve each time I was on the court. I became vigilant about learning every aspect of the sport. I loved that even though I was this little 5’2” woman, I could still be a threat. That is the beauty of Dodgeball.

At Compete, we like to emphasize “Sports Diversity,” the reason we love to share stories like yours. What does “Sports Diversity” mean to you?

For me, Sports Diversity means Inclusivity. Everyone should be able to play in an environment that is safe and understanding. It doesn’t matter your background, gender, sexuality, race, socioeconomic status or even your skill level as long as you come with an open heart and open mind. However, as an organizer it also becomes a responsibility to protect these spaces from people who don’t share our ideals or don’t understand our need to create a safe haven.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

Be an advocate for those who need it. Be a shoulder to cry on, be a text to make sure people are OK, be a voice in your community. Change starts with all of us, and when we work together, we can change the world.

www.competenetwork.com 21

SOCCER

Your Name and Sport & Organization: I’m Hans Furtado Laursen, the Soccer Sport Director for the Sin City Classic.

It’s the first Sin City Classic since before the pandemic, how does it feel to be back?

We are elated to be back on the field.

There is a lot of FOMO (fear of missing out) with our players. That has a lot to do with why we have grown since even the last tournament. We now will have 44 teams, a pre-pandemic increase of 10 teams. Soccer not only hosts its now ninth time at Sin City Classic but we are also the 2022 IGLFA Indoor World Championship III. We were awarded this three years in a row!

What’s your history with the sport? Have you been primarily an athlete, coach, organizer, or?

I have been the sport director for soccer since 2013 when soccer became a featured sport at Sin City. My role is as organizer How did you get involved with your Sport/Organization?

I was asked to lead the beginning of soccer and it is one of the proudest accomplishments of my life. We started with five teams and now we are at 44! We are an internationally-known tournament and in the big leagues now!

There is a lot going on at the Sin City Classic. What are you looking forward to most while you’re here?

I’m looking forward to seeing friends, players and staff, all of whom are ready to bring it to the field for an exciting, action-packed weekend of international competition in soccer.

At Compete, we like to emphasize “Sports Diversity.” What does “Sports Diversity” mean to you?

Sports Diversity means everyone plays, regardless of your background or experience. All are welcome. We exemplify sports diversity through our players, referees, and staff – LGBTQI+ and allies throughout our tournament.

What is next for you and your sport?

We already have an international presence, with players and staff from the United States, Canada, Mexico, the U.K., Colombia and Brazil. We hope in 2023 to expand to teams from Australia, Argentina, Germany, France, Italy and the Czech Republic.

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VOLLEYBALL

VOLLEYBALL

Your Name and Sport & Organization: My name is Marie Frazier and I’m with the Los Angeles Volleyball Organization (LAVO) What’s your history with the sport? Have you been primarily an athlete, coach, organizer, or?

I’ve played since I was 12 years old. During adulthood, I actually stopped playing for 10 years but my passion for it was re-ignited when I started playing again. I’m happy that since 2015, as both an athlete and organizer, I continue to be an advocate for adult women’s volleyball.

How long have you participated in the Sin City Classic (SCC)?

Since 2016.

How did you get involved with the SCC? I first got involved with LAVO as a player by attending open gyms, attending every available session to get back to a higher level of play. LAVO recruited me to run open gyms, leading to volunteer-organizing the women’s league and women’s tournaments.

Women’s+ participation at the SCC has grown over the years. Please share with us the volleyball milestones SCC female participation has reached.

The first year I played in 2016, there was one division with five teams, mostly consisting of players from Los Angeles. Each year the number of teams has grown, with participants coming from out of state. For 2022, we had 12 teams sign up very quickly, with another four teams on the waitlist. Players are now coming in from Hawaii, Bay Area, San Diego, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Portland and we also have Las Vegas locals participating.

What are your goals to increase Women’s+ participation in the next five years?

Word of mouth via social media and my ability to network with competitive players and organizers outside of Los Angeles are key, as well as early summer promotion to get participants to commit and block out their schedule. Also, the ability to offer more courts and have men’s and women’s divisions under one roof in a convention center type space is critical for growth.

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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS THURSDAY, JANUARY 13

2022 Compete Sports Diversity Conference at Sin City Classic 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Flamingo Hotel – Savoy Ballroom 2022 Compete Sports Diversity Awards | 12th Annual Petey Awards 6 p.m.-9:30 p.m.

Flamingo Hotel – Savoy Ballroom Athlete's Early Arrival Party Charlie's Las Vegas 8 p.m.-LATE • Official Welcome Party of the Sin City Classic • Must be 21 and older • Wristbands not required • Drink specials all night long

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14

Cornhole for Charity Tournament 10 a.m.

Flamingo Hotel • Single-day. double elimination tournament • Finals held during the Registration Party • Benefiting the Ken Scearce Memorial Scholarship Charity Darts Tournament Noon-5 p.m.

Flamingo Las Vegas – Sunset Ballroom • Steel-Tipped Charity Darts Tournament • Benefits the Ken Scearce Memorial Scholarship • Teams of 2-4 players / $50 per team • Hosted and organized by Rogue Sports

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Sin City Classic Registration Party 5 p.m.-9 p.m.

Flamingo Las Vegas – Sunset Ballroom • Athlete registration & wristband pick up • Non-athlete & VIP wristbands available for purchase • Cornhole for Charity Finals • Shop official Sin City Classic merch from Dirt Athletics SCORE! Registration Afterparty 9 p.m.-LATE Piranha Nightclub • Must be 21 and older • Wristbands required for the free entry and drink special • $7 Tito's drinks and $9 well drinks • Shuttle bus available from Flamingo South Parking Garage — Across from the East Entrance Valet • Presented by the GayVN Awards.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 15

Sin City Classic Jock Party 9 p.m.-LATE Piranha Nightclub • Must be 21 and older • Wristbands required for the free entry and drink special • $7 Tito's drinks and $9 well drinks • Shuttle bus available from Flamingo South Parking Garage — Across from the East Entrance Valet

SUNDAY, JANUARY 16

Sin City Classic Closing Party Presented by Lexus 8 p.m.-LATE Brooklyn Bowl • Must be 21 and older • Wristband required for entry • Wristbands can be purchased at the Flamingo Hotel.

• Headlined by CeCe Peniston and hosted by La Cherry Wild. Featuring performances by Dragula stars Jade Jolie and Bitter Betty and the cast of Piranha Nightclub with music by DJ Chris Tavi!

SPONSORS

www.competenetwork.com 25

VOLUNTEER AWARD

BRENT THOMPSON:

SCC VOLUNTEER AWARD RECIPIENT

BY DAVID “DIRK” SMITH, M.SC., SDL (HE,HIM, HIS) Dirk Smith: Hi Brent, please tell us a little bit about you and your background.

Brent Thompson: Hi Dirk, I grew up in Brazil, went to school in Minnesota and then in 2005 ended up moving to Los Angeles where I met Ken Scearce through softball fundraisers in West Hollywood before joining the league. Then I started playing softball for GLASA, the Greater Los Angeles Softball Association in the fall of 2009. I’d been in L.A. for four years at that point and had made most of my friends through work so I wasn't going out a lot. So I started meeting some people that were playing softball and got involved in GLASA that way. It was a good way to get involved in something here in the L.A. gay community.

DS: How did you get involved with Ken and the Sin City Classic?

BT: My husband started playing softball with Ken in 2011 and over the years, we've all become close friends. I think Ken became the GLASA commissioner in 2009 for four years and he asked me to do league graphic stuff for him back then.

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That's how I started doing it with GLASA, and then when he took over the Sin City Classic, he asked me to get involved with those graphics, too.

DS: Tell me more about your friendship with Ken. BT: We were good friends. I started playing on his team when he was coach for Cartels in 2015. When my husband was playing with him, in 2013 he took the team to the Gay Softball World Series in Washington, D.C. I was a pickup player on the team and we ended up with second place that year. Ken became a closer friend last year with COVID. We had friends that had a backyard and for about eight of us, it became our weekend COVID bubble. We’d hang out in the backyard, play cornhole, drink and watch TV. We'd watch sports like baseball (we're all big Dodger fans) and that brought us all closer. We’d also do yearly group trips to Puerto Vallarta. Ken was probably one of my best friends.

DS: You've made a huge contribution to the Sin City Classic and to GLASA. What does that mean to you?

BT: I feel honored and surprised. The last couple of years we made our graphics and postings a bit different from the other tournaments, for example, the Gay Softball World Series. The Sin City Classic is more like a general tournament, a bigger festival. So this year we did more videos and our posts on social media are in a more graphically designed style. It’s a lot of work but I enjoy doing it for the league and for Ken. People have complimented me on all the stuff that I've done for the last few years and it makes me feel good that people appreciate the work I've put into it.

DS: It's great work, great graphics, and I think it really helps promote the event.

Coming out of this pandemic, with the SCC, your sport of softball and other events coming up, do you have anything you’re especially looking forward to?

BT: Definitely! I always play at the Sin City Classic so I'm looking forward to that.

Our spring season starts in March, and here in L.A. we're competitive for the Gay Softball World Series bids as well; we always look forward to that.

DS: It's great just how much community power this has. We’re looking forward to seeing you at the Compete Sports Diversity Awards and throughout the SCC, Brent. Congratulations, again and thank you for sharing your story with us!

Founder: Scott Shives Website: www.unitedstronglv.com Help us make a difference in a LGBTQ youth.

Join us for our first 5k charity run www.betterunite.com/uslv-5krunwalk

www.competenetwork.com 31

CeCe Peniston Performing Live

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KEN SCEARCE

BY CONNIE WARDMAN, M.A., SDLT (SHE, HER, HERS)

On July 7, 2021, Ken Scearce passed away unexpectedly at the home he shared with his partner, Freddie Alvarez. To know Ken was to love him! For those of you not lucky enough to have met Ken, as a member of GLASA, the Greater Los Angeles Softball Association, he was the much beloved executive tournament director for the Sin City Classic that GLASA has hosted since 2008, and a 2014 inductee into the GLASA Hall of Fame.

It’s tough to interview a man about the love of his life not long after that person’s death. But Freddie, a 2013 GLASA Hall of Fame inductee was kind enough to spend some time with me to talk about Ken. Sometimes the moments flowed easily; sometimes they were more difficult. But in telling me some of his treasured memories of Ken, Freddie was as generous as the man he fell in love with from the moment they met.

Theirs was a romance that, like so many in the gay sports world, began during a sports tournament. In Ken and Freddie’s case it was at the 2002 Gay Softball World Series, held that year in Portland, Oregon.

Freddie said that when they first met after the games had ended, it was an instant connection! Their fulltime connection, however, took a bit longer to fall into place. Freddie was living in Los Angeles and Ken was living in Washington, D.C. at the time. So their romance continued for the next three years by correspondence, phone calls, occasional trips and meetings at three more World Series.

Finally, in 2005 Ken had an opportunity to move with his job from D.C. to L.A. While deeply attracted to one another, they both wanted a relationship that would last so they kept separate residences and took it slow at first. “Slow” lasted for just one year; by the next year the two had moved in together and their love affair endured for 19 years.

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Once on the west coast, as a national account manager for L.A.-based company, Encore, Ken got to do what he loved for a living; he organized events and led big groups. And over the years he was part of many executive planning committees, not only for GLASA but also for NAGAAA, the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance, gay softball’s parent organization. Freddie said Ken was a fearless, natural leader who got along with everyone. He was the ultimate professional who had the ability to make everyone feel comfortable no matter their role or background as a client, sponsor, city official or a player.

Ken also coached Cartel, a GLASA team that Freddie plays for. So I asked him how Ken was as a coach. The response? Pretty tough! According to Freddie, Ken was competitive by nature and very strategic. And that competitive streak didn’t end on a softball field. Ken occasionally liked to cut loose. He loved all sports or forms of competition, anything from the Olympics to RuPaul’s Drag Race, he could find a way to make anything and everything a competition and that included his beloved tequila shots and a certain amount of hijinks.

When I asked about items on their bucket list, Freddie said they wanted to travel to Ireland. But this past April they purchased a condominium with the long-term goal of buying a house where Ken could indulge his love of grilling, they could raise a family and Ken could coach Little League baseball. When I asked about how their personality differences played out in their everyday interactions, Freddie laughed and shared the following story. He said they had been chatting with a couple at a party who mentioned they were in the process of adopting six boys. Ken got really excited about having that many kids, saying that his little league team would be set. Freddie, an IT consultant, said his more introverted response to this was, “Think about how many gallons of milk that would be!”

But Freddie said that the most amazing thing about Ken was his outgoing personality, his ineffable ability to make people smile the minute he walked into a room. Ken, he said, was always positive, he always saw the glass half-full.

It certainly was Ken’s positive attitude that helped grow the Sin City Classic (SCC), and the SCC has created the Ken Scearce Leadership Award to honor him by recognizing “athletes, leaders, coaches, referees and other volunteers who dedicate their time/skills to promoting the value/importance of LGBTQ+ sports.” The inaugural Ken Scearce Leadership Award will be presented at the festival’s Opening Night party on Friday, January 14, 2022.

www.competenetwork.com 35

CORNHOLE JA NUARY 14 t h 10 AM

SUNSET BALLROOM

TO BENEFIT THE KEN SCEARCE SCHOLARSHIP FUND

SAFENEST INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE (IPV) DOESN’T DISCRIMINATE BY RACE, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER OR IDENTITY. SafeNest is Nevada’s largest, most comprehensive nonprofit dedicated to ENDING domestic violence for ALL victims.

We listen. We give support. We can HELP. Call or Text 24/7 Crisis Hotline: 702-646-4981 Chat online at SafeNest.org

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TO ALL SIN CITY PARTICIPANTS!

40 COMPETE 2022 Sin City Classic Sports Festival

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Supporting those living with HIV/AIDS in Southern Nevada since 1987.

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42 COMPETE 2022 Sin City Classic Sports Festival

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JAN 12-15

SIN CITY

CLASSIC

SAVE THE DATE

XVI

www.sincityclassic.org

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SIN CITY CLASSIC WEEKEND EVENTS

13TH

14TH

14TH

14TH

THURSDAY EARLY ARRIVAL PARTY CHARLIE’S LAS VEGAS FRIDAY CORNHOLE FOR CHARITY - 10 AM FLAMINGO SUNSET BALLROOM FRIDAY REGISTRATION PARTY - 5 PM FLAMINGO SUNSET BALLROOM FRIDAY SCORE - 9 PM PIRANHA VEGAS

JANUARY 13 - 16

16TH

SATURDAY JOCK PARTY - 9 PM PIRANHA VEGAS

17TH

SUNDAY CLOSING PARTY- 8 PM BROOKLYN BOWL ALL WEEKEND DRINK SPECIALS BIRD BAR AT FLAMINGO ALL WEEKEND DRINK SPECIALS CARLOS’ N CHARLIE’S

REGISTRATION PARTY FLAMINGO SUNSET JANUARY 14 BALLROOM ATHLETE REGISTRATION

5 PM - 9 PM www.sincityclassic.org

CORNHOLE FOR CHARITY FINALS

12th Annual

Presented by

Partners ARMILLA

50 COMPETE 2022 Sin City Classic Sports Festival

12th Annual

WELCOME

Please Wear a Mask at All Times Unless Eating or Drinking 6:00-7:00 Networking Opportunity 7:00-9:30 Welcome by Jared Garduno, SDLT

Awards Presented by Ryan Atkin

Break + Entertainment

Awards Presented by Molly Lenore, SDL

Awards Presented by Connor Shane, SDLT Ken Scearce Tribute Award Presented by Eric Carlyle, SDLT Mark Bingham Athlete of the Year Awards Presented by Eric Carlyle, SDLT Special thanks to Cloud Sports, DJ Axis, Encore, The Flamingo Las Vegas, GLASA, Henderson Equality Center, Sin City Classic, SVTV Network, Tim Dunn, Our Friends, Partners and All of You. Congratulations to SAFY for winning this year’s Community Non-Profit Award presented during the Compete Sports Diversity Conference.

Congratulations to SafeNest for winning this year’s Outstanding Non-Profit Award presented during the Compete Sports Diversity Conference.

2022 Compete Sports Diversity Award Categories • • • • • • • • •

Change Champion Award Community Business Award Corporate Community Partner Award Corporate Diversity Partner Award Community Hero Award Community Non-Profit Award Corporate Community Partner Award Emerging Sport Award IGLFA Lifetime Achievement Award Presented by Stonewall Inn • Ken Scearce Tribute Award Presented

by Tito’s Handmade Vodka • Legacy Award Presented by Henderson Equality Center • Mark Bingham Female Athlete of the Year Presented by Gay Polo League

• M ark Bingham Male Athlete of the Year Presented by Gay Polo League • M olly Lenore Inspiring Athlete Award Presented by Golden Rainbow • M VP Award • N ational Sports Tournament Partnership Award • N ational Tournament Bid Award • O utstanding Non-Profit Award • O utstanding Sports Tournament Regional/Local Award • R eaders’ Choice Award • R eturn To Play Award • V olunteer Award Presented by Sin City Classic

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