STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association, in cooperation with Rural Mutual Insurance Company, has selected the team Sportsmanship Award winners for the 2019 fall State Tournaments.
The recipients of the sportsmanship awards are Bay Port in football, Luxemburg-Casco in girls volleyball, Waukesha West in boys volleyball, Badger in girls team tennis and Northland Pines in boys soccer.
The WIAA/Rural Insurance Sportsmanship Award is presented to one school program and community–or communities in the case of cooperative programs–in each of the State team tournaments that demonstrates outstanding sportsmanship. Award winners are determined by the conduct and sportsmanship displayed by athletes, coaches, cheer and support groups, mascots, bands and spectators. Additional consideration is given for the effort of school administrators and chaperones to ensure support for their teams are positive and that the highest ideals of sportsmanship are demonstrated.
Bay Port earned its second sportsmanship recognition with its large crowd and positive support for the Pirates at the State Football Championships at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison on Nov. 22. They also claimed the award in girls soccer back in 2010. They advanced to the State championship game for the first time in the program’s history. They fell to two-time champion Muskego, 21-10, in the Division 1 final. Honorable mention for the award went to Kiel, Lake Country Lutheran, Luck, Newman Catholic, Regis and Stratford.
Luxemburg-Casco is this year’s recipient of the award for the State Girls Volleyball Tournament, which was held at the Resch Center in Green Bay on Nov. 7-9. The Spartans earned the honor for the third time overall and for the first time in girls volleyball. The other two recognitions came in team wrestling in 2001 and 2007. Their large contingent of fans displayed outstanding sportsmanship, enthusiasm and community support en route to winning the Division 2 championship with a four-game victory over McFarland in the championship match. Schools receiving honorable mention were Hillsboro, McFarland, Newman Catholic, Oconomowoc, Union Grove and Wisconsin Lutheran.
Waukesha West was determined to have displayed the most outstanding sportsmanship on a short list of programs in the State Boys Volleyball Tournament at the Resch Center in Green Bay. It’s the first time the Wolverines have been recognized with the sportsmanship award. They lost a four-game match to Brookfield East in the State quarterfinals. Honorable mention for the award was extended to Franklin and Racine Horlick.
Badger is the recipient of the Sportsmanship Award in girls tennis, which marks the first time the Badgers have been bestowed the recognition. They defeated Brookfield East, 4-3, in the Division 1 quarterfinal before falling to Homestead by the same score in the semifinals. Kohler was given honorable mention for the award.
Northland Pines is the recipient of the honor in boys soccer with its display of sportsmanship in the frigid conditions at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee on Nov. 8. It marks the second time the Eagles have received the award in the sport. Their previous recognition in boys soccer came in 1997. They also won the award in boys hockey in 2004. They made their eighth State Tournament appearance this season, which resulted in a 5-1 defeat to eventual Division 4 champion Sturgeon Bay in the semifinals. Last year’s award-winner McFarland received honorable mention recognition.
Award winners receive a trophy and banner in recognition of the honor. Schools receiving honorable mention are acknowledged with a certificate of recognition. The selection process includes contributions and evaluations from contest officials, tournament management, police and security personnel, crowd control and ushers, WIAA staff members, and area hotels and restaurants on occasion.
The membership of the WIAA oversees interscholastic athletic programs for 511 senior high schools and 46 junior high/middle level schools in its membership. It sponsors 27 championship Tournament series for boys and girls in 2019-20. For more information, please contact the WIAA office at (715) 344-8580.
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