USA South Presents Sportsmanship Trophy

(STAUNTON, VA) - The USA South Athletic Conference recently presented its Sportsmanship Trophy to Mary Baldwin College at the Fighting Squirrels' volleyball match versus Averett on Thursday, October 11. USA South Commissioner Rita Wiggs was on hand to present the award to Mary Baldwin student-athletes Sara Valdivieso (Volleyball), Madeline Ogden (Tennis/SAAC President), Jessica Hogle (Softball) and Shamanda Washington (Basketball).

The USA South Athletic Conference Sportsmanship Trophy was established by the USA South Student-Athlete Advisory Committee in 2004 through its commitment to maintaining a sportsmanlike environment on each of the USA South campuses.

There is a Sportsmanship Award for 11 of the 14 Conference-sponsored sports. For every sport, each student-athlete votes for the teams he/she deems to have demonstrated the best overall sportsmanship throughout the season. The team garnering the most votes will receive the sports' Sportsmanship Award. The institution with the most individual sport Awards wins the overall USA South Sportsmanship Trophy.

Mary Baldwin won the Sportsmanship Trophy after picking up the Sportsmanship Award in three sports during the 2011-2012 academic year. This is the third Sportsmanship Trophy for the Fighting Squirrels who were chosen as individual Sportsmanship Award winners in softball, basketball and volleyball.

“Fairness, self-control, courage and persistence are qualities of sportsmanship and leadership," stated Sharon Spalding, Mary Baldwin Director of Athletics. "As athletic director, I am so very proud of our volleyball, basketball, and softball programs for being recognized by other conference schools for their sportsmanship. The court and field are classrooms that teach our student-athletes many things, but sportsmanship is one that we hope to see in all of our teams.”