Owen-Withee Girls Basketball Is A WIAA Team Tournament Sportsmanship Award Recipient

Monday, April 21st, 2025 -- 9:46 AM

The WIAA, in cooperation with Rural Mutual Insurance, has chosen the recipients of the team Sportsmanship Awards for the 2025 winter State Tournaments.  

The winners of the prestigious Sportsmanship Award are Holmen in team wrestling, West Salem Co-op in gymnastics, Sun Prairie West Co-op in girls hockey, Amery Co-op in boys hockey, Wausau East in boys basketball and Owen-Withee in girls basketball.  The Blackhawks won the award once previously with their girls basketball appearance in the 2005 State Tournament.  The schools receiving honorable mention are Barneveld, Durand-Arkansaw, Elk Mound, Muskego and Rice Lake.

Following its appearance in the State Team Wrestling Tournament, Holmen was named as the recipient for its sportsmanship efforts by coaches, competitors and fans. The Vikings advanced to the Division 1 semifinals with a 57-18 victory over Muskego in the quarterfinals before falling to eventual champion Kaukauna, 40-22, in their semifinal match. It’s the second time the Vikings have won the award in team wrestling, having earned the honor in 2021. It’s the Vikings’ fourth award overall. They received the honor in softball in 1999 and gymnastics in 2007. Honorable mention for the award was extended to Oostburg and St. Croix Falls.

The sportsmanship evaluations and staff observations at the State Gymnastics Championships led to the selection of the West Salem/Aquinas/Bangor co-op as the Sportsmanship Award winner for 2025. The co-op displayed positive enthusiasm and finished eighth in Division 1 at the team championships. It’s the first time the co-op has been bestowed the honor. Also receiving consideration for the award were West Bend East and Chippewa Fall/McDonell Catholic. 

Wausau East returned to the tournament field in boys basketball for the first time since 2007, and the sportsmanship demonstrated by the players, coaches and school community earned the Lumberjacks the decoration. As the #3 seed in the Division 2 bracket, they fell in the semifinals to eventual champion Wauwatosa West, 75-63. It’s the second time Wausau East has been selected as recipient of the award in boys basketball, which accounts for its overall total. They also received the recognition in 1971. The schools receiving honorable mention are Elk Mound, Marshfield, The Prairie School and Turtle Lake. 

The Sun Prairie West Co-op, consisting of six schools, including Sun Prairie West, Sun Prairie East, DeForest, Madison East, Madison La Follette and Waunakee, won the award in girls hockey for the second straight season, which accounts for the co-op’s overall total. The Cap City Cougars, the #4 seed in the State Tournament, fell to top-seeded and eventual-champion De Pere Co-op 4-0 in the semifinals. The De Pere Co-op received honorable mention for the award.

The good sportsmanship modeled by the Amery/Clayton/Clear Lake/Unity Co-op both on the ice and in the stands during the State Boys Hockey Tournament led to its selection as the Sportsmanship Award recipient. The Warriors finished runner-up in the tournament, defeating Somerset/St. Croix Falls 4-2 in the semifinals and falling 5-3 to Tomahawk in the championship game. It’s the first time the Amery Co-op has been selected for the award. McFarland and Tomahawk received honorable mention.

The WIAA/Rural Mutual Insurance Sportsmanship Award is presented to one school and community in each of the State team tournaments that exhibits exemplary sportsmanship. The award recipients are determined by the 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 showcased. Award winners receive a trophy and banner in recognition of the honor. Schools receiving honorable mention are acknowledged with a certificate of recognition.

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