WIAA Winter Team Tournament Sportsmanship Awards Announced
Thursday, April 13th, 2017 -- 1:33 PM
The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association, in cooperation with Rural Mutual Insurance, has chosen the recipients of the team Sportsmanship Awards for the 2017 winter State Tournaments.The winners of the prestigious sportsmanship recognition are the Hayward Co-op in girls hockey, Eau Claire Memorial in boys hockey, River Falls in gymnastics, Slinger in wrestling, Middleton in girls basketball and Prescott in boys basketball.
The Hayward Co-op, which includes Hayward, Ashland, Northwestern, Rice Lake, Shell Lake and Spooner, is bestowed the sportsmanship award in girls hockey for the first time. It’s also the first time Hayward has won the award in any sport. The Hurricanes came up on the short end of a 2-1 decision in their State semifinal match-up with the Green Bay East Co-op.
Eau Claire Memorial repeats as the Sportsmanship Award selection in boys hockey. The Old Abes are the recipients of the Sportsmanship Award in boys hockey for the fourth time. The Old Abes also earned the award in hockey in 1992, 2000 and last year. It is the 10th time the school and community have received the sportsmanship honor overall. They also received recognition in boys tennis in 2014; girls tennis in 1998, 2004 and 2011; girls soccer in 2005; and boys basketball in 1970. The Old Abes lost to eventual champion Hudson in the quarterfinals, 4-0. Hudson received honorable mention for the award.
River Falls receives the Sportsmanship Award in gymnastics for the third time. The Wildcats earned the honor in back-to-back years in 2012 and 2103. It is the eighth Sportsmanship Award won by the school across all sports. They received the honor three years in a row as a girls co-op hockey program from 2009-11 and again in 2014, and they were selected as the recipient in team wrestling in 1998. They were the Division 2 runner-up in the team competition at the WIAA State Gymnastics Championships in March. The schools and communities receiving honorable mention include Brookfield East/Central, Antigo, Chippewa Falls, Manitowoc Lincoln and Stevens Point.
Slinger was judged to have the top sportsmanship at the State Team Wrestling Tournament. It was the first time the Owls received the award in wrestling, which coincides with the program’s first appearance in the team tournament. This is the second time the Owls have been recognized overall, also winning the award in 2006 for girls soccer. In March, the Owls fell to Holmen, 44-17, in the quarterfinals. Holmen, Hudson, Lodi, Lomira, Menomonee Falls, Random Lake and Spring Valley/Elmwood were given honorable mention for the award.
Middleton is the recipient of the sportsmanship award in girls basketball to earn its second sportsmanship award this year and its sixth overall. The Cardinals were also recognized for their sportsmanship at the State Boys Volleyball Tournament last fall. In March, De Pere edged the Cardinals in the State Girls Basketball Tournament semifinals, 49-47 in overtime. Other previous awards issued to the Cardinals came in boys volleyball in 2009, boys tennis in 2007 and 2009, and in girls tennis in 2013. Clayton and Howards Grove were also in contention to receive the award and were recognized with honorable mention.
Prescott made its second appearance in the State Boys Basketball Tournament in the last three years and was chosen as this year’s winner of the sportsmanship award. The Cardinals finished runner-up in Division 3, falling 73-47 to an undefeated Xavier squad in the championship game. They advanced to the final with a 74-67 victory over Lake Mills in the semifinals. It is the second time Prescott has been selected for the sportsmanship award. The first came in football in 2000. Barneveld, Columbus Catholic, Darlington, Lake Mills, Roncalli and Waunakee each received honorable mention for the award.
The WIAA/Rural Mutual Insurance sportsmanship award is presented to one school and community in each of the State team tournaments. The 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 plaque and banner in recognition of the honor.
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