STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association, in partnership with Rural Mutual Insurance Company, has selected the team Sportsmanship Award winners for the 2024 Spring State Team Tournaments.
The winners of the prestigious award are Oak Creek High School in baseball, Laconia High School in softball, Rice Lake High School in girls soccer, and Madison West High School in boys tennis.
Oak Creek demonstrated sportsmanship with its respectful and positive team and spectator support advancing to the semifinals at the State Baseball Tournament in June. It’s the third time the Knights have been chosen as the recipient of the award. They also received the honor in summer baseball in 2014 in team wrestling in 1996. Oak Creek defeated Nicolet 11-5 in the Division 1 quarterfinals before falling 11-4 to Sun Prairie East in the semifinals. Honorable mention for the award was extended to De Pere, Eleva-Strum, Johnson Creek, Kenosha St. Joseph, Kettle Moraine Lutheran, Pacelli and Westosha Central.
Laconia is the recipient of the WIAA/Rural Mutual Insurance Sportsmanship Award for the third time and for the first time in softball. The Spartans finished runner-up in Division 3 following a 3-2 victory over top-seeded Mishicot in the semifinals and a 3-1 setback to Prescott in the championship game. The two previous Sportsmanship Awards presented to Laconia were in basketball in 2002 and spring baseball in 2017. Assumption, Auburndale, Cedarburg, Hamilton, Kaukauna, Lake Mills, New Richmond, Prescott, Sun Prairie East and Thorp all received honorable mention.
Rice Lake received positive evaluations for their team and spectator sportsmanship in girls soccer. It’s the third time the Warriors have been bestowed the honor overall and the first time for girls soccer. They also received back-to-back sportsmanship awards for boys soccer in 2015 and 2016, and was bestowed the honor in boys hockey in 2009. The Warriors fell in their Division 3 semifinal match-up versus top-seeded Plymouth and eventual champion, 4-0. The schools and communities receiving honorable mention include Cedarburg, Kiel, Kimberly and Regis/McDonell Catholic.
Madison West was selected as the award recipient after the Regents advanced to the State Boys Team Tennis Tournament for a seventh time in program history. It is the first time the Regents have been selected for the award in boys tennis and for the second time overall. Their previous recognition came in boys soccer in 2017. After defeating Badger 6-1 in their Division 1 quarterfinal match-up, the Regents fell in their semifinal match against Marquette, 4-3.
The WIAA/Rural Insurance Sportsmanship Award is presented to one school program and community–or communities in the case of cooperative programs–that demonstrates outstanding sportsmanship in WIAA team tournaments. 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 is positive and showcases the highest ideals of sportsmanship.
The selection process includes evaluations from contest officials, tournament management, as well as, security personnel, crowd control and ushers, and WIAA staff members. Rural Mutual Insurance began sponsoring the Sportsmanship Award program back in 1965.
The WIAA, as defined by its Constitution, is a voluntary, unincorporated, and nonprofit organization. The membership oversees interscholastic athletic programs for 513 senior high schools and 43 junior high/middle level schools in its membership.
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