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Sportsmanship Plus - Girls Basketball

Stevens Point @ Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln
Dec. 13, 2021

The game was between two schools that were anticipated to very competitive and it was a very full gym. During the game the fans were excellent with cheering for their school while the coaches and players treated the officials, as well as the opposing team, with respect. I want to thank both schools for showing amazing sportsmanship during a highly contested basketball game.

Reporting Official:  Franklin Searer

Sportsmanship Plus - Boys Basketball

Winter @ Phillips
Dec. 7, 2021

Hats off to Phillips boys head coach Amy Ring and Winter head coach Jason Ufferman. In a basketball game, sometimes you finish a game and understand why you enjoy reffing the game. This happened with our crew during this game. Both teams played hard, showed great sportsmanship and enjoyed playing the game. The score was lopsided one way, but both teams played hard and encouraged each other to continue to play hard. I feel this starts at the homes of these young athletes, but knowing high school sports, it comes from the way they are coached. Congrats to both coaching staffs, communities and school districts for showing us all what the true meaning of high school sports are all about.

Reporting Official:  Woodrow Keeble

Sportsmanship Plus - Girls Basketball

Kiel @ Two Rivers
Dec. 14, 2021

I'd like to applaud Coach Slickman of Two Rivers and Coach Vandermeuse of Kiel for how they conducted themselves in our game last night. Our crew took a young official for his first varsity game and the coaches couldn't have been more respectful throughout the contest. Thank you gentleman for making this young official's first varsity game an enjoyable experience.

Reporting Official:  Mark Jandrin

Sportsmanship Plus - Wrestling

Kenosha Christian Life @ Nicolet
Dec. 4, 2021

“Thank you for being a referee", I have been a wrestling official for eight years now, and I can say this is the first time I had every athlete shake my hand and sincerely thank me. Alex Yang, Kenosha Christian Life, was the first. Not only did he thank me, but he thanked his opponents before the match for competing with him and he also thanked them for the competition after the match. I refereed four of Alex's matches and I believe he was 1-3. He didn't get upset after a loss. He got up and patted the opponent on the back and said thanks for the match. After his only match on my mat, he acted with the same class in victory.

Reporting Official:  Jeff Langkamp

Fall Tournament Sportsmanship Awards Selected

STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association, in cooperation with Rural Mutual Insurance Company, has selected the team Sportsmanship Award winners for the 2021 fall State Tournaments.

WIAA Conducts 11th Sportsmanship Summit

STEVENS POINT, Wis. – More than 420 students and administrators representing 83 teams from 76 member high schools attended the 2021 WIAA/Rural Mutual Insurance Sportsmanship Summit held Wednesday at the Holiday Inn and Convention Center in Stevens Point.

Sportsmanship Plus - Boys Basketball

Wabeno/Laona @ Crivitz
Nov. 27, 2021

It was an extreme pleasure working the first game of the inaugural Thanksgiving boys basketball tournament at the Crivitz High School. Were greeted by the athletic director Jeff Dorschner. He immediately showed us to our locker room. Inside the locker room there were a plethora of healthy snacks and sports drinks for us to consume throughout the night. During the game, both coaches were outstanding in leading their teams to a hotly contested game, Both sides showed great sportsmanship.It was an enjoyable night for all involved.

Reporting Official:  Patrick Tschimperle

Sportsmanship - Boys Basketball

Johnson Creek @ Cambria-Friesland
Nov. 29, 2021

We experienced a phenomenal example of sportsmanship from players, coaches, and fans from both Cambria-Friesland and Johnson Creek. If all schools, coaches, and players displayed this high of quality of sportsmanship there would never be a shortage of officials. I never heard a negative comment from either coach or the players. The coaches never rode their players and focused on teaching them when they made a mistake. I never heard a derogatory remark from the fans, either. Both teams played hard and when the game was over my partners and I walked away realizing we had experienced a night of good ball and better sportsmanship that we know rarely comes our way. Thank you to Cambria-Friesland and Johnson Creek for creating such a positive atmosphere. A thank you should also go out to the Johnson Creek pep band for their positive attitude and to one young lady who asked if I had a request and then made sure the band played that song.

Reporting Official:  Paul White

Sportsmanship Plus - Football

Regis vs. Coleman
Nov. 12, 2021

Our officiating crew would like to extend its gratitude for the fine sportsmanship displayed by Regis and Coleman during the Division 7, Level 4 contest. In such a big game with so much riding on the outcome, we normally don’t experience such a fine display of sportsmanship from coaches and players. Both teams’ coaching staff did a tremendous job of modeling positive sportsmanship. Coaches kept their sidelines clean, coached in a positive manner, and were respectful to officials. The wing officials commented how the coaches were confidently coaching their teams and positively engaging with the officiating crew. The coaches’ reverence for officials modeled the behavior exhibited by players. It is evident both coaches are well-respected as their players listened well, played hard, and exhibited positive sportsmanship.  The player’s conduct during this spirited contest was exceptional. Not once did the officials hear a negative comment; in fact, players complimented each other and assisted the opposing team off the turf. Players’ communication was extraordinary as they respectfully asked questions of officials and said “thank you” for the officials’ response. When coaches set high expectations for themselves, their teams mirrored the positive sportsmanship on the field. The officials summed up the actions of both head coaches and their teams in one word – class!Congratulations to Coach Brenner and Coach Bronson for exhibiting positive sportsmanship that bled to the players, staff, and fans. It is important to teach youth about winning, but it’s even more important to educate our youth about handling adversity, problem solving, executing strategy, and proper sportsmanship. We thank and congratulate both schools for their class and efforts in teaching and demonstrating positive sportsmanship.

Reporting Official:  Shawn Umland

Sportsmanship Plus - Football

River Falls @ Waunakee
Oct. 30, 2021

This event started exceptional with host school Waunakee and their hospitality. We had special parking spaces for the crew, great locker room facilities, water and snacks as well as a small hot meal at halftime in the press box. The clock operator asked us questions and wanted feedback on his role and the chain crew was exceptional and professional. This is so important to officials to have all these moving pieces in place for a high level football event. The coaching staff and players from home team Waunakee and visiting River Falls were the highest of class in their character and demeanor. Kudo's to the entire Waunakee and River Falls communities and school districts, for fostering first class football programs. Our crew was honored to be a part of such a great environment, and what made it even better was the manner in which both River Falls and Waunakee played that football game. Both programs should be proud of the culture and climate they have created. Well done!

Reporting Official:  Brian Kinney

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