Rutherford County CVB and Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association Honored by Sports ETA

Rutherford County CVB and Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association were honored by Sports ETA for the Event Partnership of the Year, population below 500,000 category. They were one of 10 awardees honored today among the 800 Sports ETA member organizations.

The award was accepted by Donna Klempnow and Barbara Wolke from the Rutherford County CVB, at the annual Sports ETA Symposium held this week in Portland, Oregon. The Sports ETA Member Awards sponsor is Team Travel Source.

The award judges commented: “For this event, Rutherford partnered with Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association to host Spring Fling at 15 sites throughout the county. Spring Fling is an Olympic-style event where the state’s top high school athletes compete for championships in tennis, baseball, softball, soccer, and track & field. Over 43,000 people attended in 2023, with an economic impact of $4.8 million.”

“Congratulations to the team at Rutherford County CVB and Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association for being named Sports Partnership of the Year by Sports ETA,” said John David, President & CEO of Sports ETA. “The award honors partnerships who are leading our sports events tourism industry in collaborative and creative ways.”

Barbara Wolke, senior vice president of the Rutherford County Convention and Visitors Bureau, expressed her gratitude for the recognition and emphasized the significance of the partnership with TSSAA: “Receiving the Event Partnership of the Year award from Sports ETA is a tremendous honor for us. Our collaboration with the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association is truly invaluable. Together, we’ve been able to elevate events like Spring Fling, showcasing not only the athletic talent of our state’s youth but also the hospitality and vibrant community of Rutherford County. This award underscores the power of partnership in driving success and economic impact for our region.”