STEVENS POINT, Wis.– The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association, in cooperation with Rural Mutual Insurance Company, has selected the team Sportsmanship Award winners for the 2014 Fall State Championships.
The winners of the State Team Tournament Sportsmanship Awards are Marathon in girls volleyball, Menomonee Falls in boys soccer, Pepin/Alma in football, University School of Milwaukee in girls team tennis and Arrowhead in boys volleyball.
Marathon earned its third sportsmanship recognition overall with its positive spirit at the State girls volleyball tournament. The Red Raiders advanced to the State Division 3 final in their second State appearance in girls volleyball. They defeated Cameron in four sets in the semifinals and fell to Division 3 champion Warerloo in three sets in the championship match. Marathon was also recipient of the Sportsmanship Award for girls basketball in 1987 and boys basketball in 2011. Honorable mention for the award went to Divine Savior Holy Angels and Platteville.
Menomonee Falls is the recipient of the Sportsmanship Award in boys soccer. It marks the first time the school and community has been recognized for any sport. The program’s support was positive and significant in both its semifinal and final games. The Indians advanced to the Division 1 final via a shootout with Beloit Memorial, and they finished runner-up in the State Tournament following a 4-1 loss to champion Marquette in the title game. Barron, Delavan-Darien, Eau Claire Memorial, Luxemburg-Casco, Rice Lake and Sturgeon Bay received honorable mention for the award.
The Pepin/Alma cooperative program was selected for its sportsmanship following the program’s first appearance in the State football finals. It is the first time either school has been selected for the award in any sport since Alma was recognized in boys basketball back in 1966. The co-op advanced to the State final this season in Division 7. The Eagles comeback in the fourth quarter fell short in a 17-12 loss to Owen-Withee in the title game played at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison. Receiving honorable mention were Little Chute, Owen-Withee and Rice Lake.
University School of Milwaukee is the recipient of the Sportsmanship Award in girls team tennis, which marks the second time the Wildcats have received the award in girls tennis and the third time the school and its community have been honored overall. They were also selected for the award in girls tennis in 2006, as well as in girls hockey in 2013. They won their seventh State Girls Team Tennis Championship in school history by defeating Edgewood 4-3 in the Division 2 title match at the Nielsen Tennis Stadium in Madison in October.
Arrowhead displayed positive school spirit to earn its second Sportsmanship Award in boys volleyball and its third award overall, having also received the recognition in boys volleyball in 2004 and in boys tennis in 2013. The Warhawks battled second-seeded Appleton North before falling in five sets in the State quarterfinals.
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 exemplifies 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 insure support for their teams are positive and that the highest ideals of sportsmanship are upheld.
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.
# WIAA #