March 23, 2006 
Contact: Cory Blackson, Sports Information Director

USA South Announces Winter Sportsmanship Awards

(FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.) - During the 2004-2005 academic year the USA South Athletic Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee instituted a Conference-wide Sportsmanship Award.  Today the USA South is pleased to announce the Sportsmanship Award winners for the 2005-2006 winter sports season.  N.C. Wesleyans College has been chosen for women's basketball, while Averett University is the winner for men's basketball. 

There will be a Sportsmanship Award for 12 of the 14 Conference-sponsored sports.  For every sport, each team member 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 that sports' Sportsmanship Award.  The institution that wins the most individual sport Awards will win the overall USA South Sportsmanship Trophy.  The Award was developed as a result of the SAAC's commitment to maintaining a sportsmanlike environment on each of our campuses. 

A voter stated she chose N.C. Wesleyan's women's basketball team "because they always played hard and played with a good attitude."

One ballot stated that Averett's men's basketball team "demonstrated a good attitude when interacting with teammates, coaches, officials and fans."

The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee hopes that by awarding a Sportsmanship Award, the members of the USA South will understand the importance of this issue.  It is vital that good sportsmanship be demonstrated in the arena of competition. 

Winter Sportsmanship Award Winners
Women's Basketball - N.C. Wesleyan College
Men's Basketball - Averett University