STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association, in cooperation with Rural Mutual Insurance, has chosen the recipients of the team Sportsmanship Awards for the 2026 winter State Tournaments.
The winners of the prestigious Sportsmanship Award are Reedsville in boys basketball, Fall River in girls basketball, Auburndale in team wrestling, Marshfield in gymnastics and River Falls Co-op in girls hockey. There was no recipient of the award for the State Boys Hockey Tournament.
Reedsville returned to the tournament field in boys basketball for the first time since its only other appearance in 1946, which resulted in the Panthers’ first championship. They won the Division 5 title this year with a 56-48 victory over Southwestern in the championship game. As the top seed in the bracket, the Panthers advanced to the final with a 75-72 over Sheboygan Lutheran in the semifinals. The sportsmanship demonstrated by the school and community, as well as the players and coaches earned the Panthers the recognition. It’s the first time Reedsville has been selected as recipient of the award in boys basketball and the second time overall. They also received the recognition for football in their 2021 appearance in the final. The schools receiving honorable mention are Bonduel, Prentice, Regis and Seymour.
Fall River is the Sportsmanship Award winner in girls basketball following the Pirates’ appearance in the State Tournament. Evaluations of staff and tournament personnel determined the team and community exhibited exceptional sportsmanship in the tournament. As the #4 seed, they fell 70-54 to top-seeded Eleva-Strum in the semifinals. The Pirates won the award once previously with their boys basketball team’s appearance in the 2023 State Tournament. The schools receiving honorable mention are Barneveld, Eleva-Strum and Pewaukee.
The sportsmanship evaluations and staff observations at the State Gymnastics Championships led to the selection of Marshfield as the Sportsmanship Award winner for 2026. The Tigers finished third in the Division 2 team standings, and their supporters displayed enthusiasm during competition. It’s the second time Marshfield has been selected as an award recipient and first time in gymnastics. The Tigers also received the award in girls tennis in 1995.
The River Falls Co-op, consisting of three schools, including River Falls, Baldwin-Woodville and St. Croix Central, won the award in girls hockey. Different school configurations of the co-op have earned the recognition four other times for girls hockey, including three straight selections from 2009-11 and again in 2014. In other sports, River Falls was the recipient of the award in gymnastics in 2011, 2012, 2016 and 2021; girls volleyball in 2021; and team wrestling in 1998. The St. Croix Valley Fusion finished runner-up this year after defeating Superior/Northwestern 7-4 in the semifinals and falling to top-seeded De Pere Co-op in the championship game.
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.
The selection process includes contributions and evaluations from contest officials, tournament management, event security and WIAA staff members. Rural Mutual Insurance has been a sponsor of this award since 1965, and its partnership contributes to the promotion of sportsmanship in education-based athletics as a valued corporate partner of the WIAA.
The WIAA, as defined by its Constitution, is a private voluntary, unincorporated, and nonprofit organization. The membership oversees interscholastic athletic programs for 514 senior high schools and 30 junior high/middle level schools in its membership.
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