By JILL LAUFER
PBA public relations
NEW YORK — PBA Tour champion Jake Peters of Henderson, Nev. was named by his peers to receive the 2021 PBA Steve Nagy Sportsmanship Award. Peters was the only nominee for the award, which receives nominations from and is voted on exclusively by national touring PBA Tour professionals.
“It’s incredibly shocking,” said Peters. “I was not expecting this whatsoever. The honor of being chosen by my peers is really awesome and having my name attached to this award is a true honor. It’s unbelievable to find out I was the only nominee. It’s really humbling to be recognized and supported by the players like this.”
Peters, who has always been well liked by his fellow competitors, maintained his positive disposition this year despite suffering tremendous personal tragedy.
In late May, Peters lost his wife, Melissa, who had been fighting an aggressive form of breast cancer called HER2-positive. Peters was overwhelmed with the support of the bowling community throughout the entire battle and is further astounded by receiving the Steve Nagy Sportsmanship Award from his fellow competitors.
“It makes me feel even more grateful for how amazing our community is,” said Peters. “The players have been absolutely supportive through everything my family and I went through and I’m so humbled to be accepted and appreciated by them. I still look at myself as a we and Mel is just as big a part of my career as I am. I know she’s up there telling me, ‘You’re welcome.’ ”
Peters competed in 11 events during the 2021 season, most notably finishing second in the PBA Lubbock Sports Open in July in his return to the PBA Tour. He plans to resume full-time competition in 2022.
“I feel really good,” he said. “I’m focusing all my time and energy on being ready and hoping 2022 is my best season yet.”
First presented in 1966, the PBA’s sportsmanship award honors Steve Nagy, a PBA Hall of Famer and founding member who was instrumental to the success of the PBA Tour in its early years.