Sportsmanship Awards Given For Fall Sports

February 23, 2005 – The USA South Student-Athlete Advisory Committee has instituted a Conference-wide Sportsmanship Award and the fall sports are the first to be recognized.  N.C. Wesleyan has been chosen for football, while Methodist is the winner for volleyball.  For soccer, Christopher Newport has been named for the men and Peace for the women. 

There will be a Sportsmanship Award for each of the 14 Conference-sponsored sports.  For ever 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 school that wins the most individual sport Awards will win the overall USA South Sportsmanship Trophy.  The Award came about through SAAC's commitment to maintaining a sportsmanlike environment on each of our campuses. 

One vote for the NCWC football squad said they were a "very aggressive team; the players played hard in respect to the game and were humble afterwards."

A voter stated she chose PC's women's soccer "because no matter what happened during the game none of the girls stopped trying.  They gave 110% all the time."

One ballot stated that CNU's men's soccer team "played aggressive, but fair; showed good sportsmanship and were friendly players."

A volleyball player wrote that MC's "coach is very nice and has a good attitude, which shows through his players.  They were courteous on and off the court."

The Awards will be presented to each of the winning schools at a later date.  The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee hopes that by establishing a Sportsmanship Award, the members of the USA South will understand the importance of this issue.  The student-athletes, coaches and administrators represent the best of our institutions and it is vital that this be demonstrated on and off the field.