Sportsmanship - Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association

Sportsmanship Plus - Boys Soccer

WIAA Winter Team Tournament Sportsmanship Awards Selected

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 2020 winter State Tournaments.

Sportsmanship Plus - Girls Basketball

Weston @ Necedah
Jan. 27, 2020

I have officiated many times at Necedah and each and every time for the last 2-3 years of going there, the level of attention to detail from the WON 80 Club at Necedah gets better and better. Part of this movement is to show appreciation for sports officials by providing them snack bags with various treats for officials to eat in the locker room or in the car ride home. These great efforts start with leadership and teacher, Mark Horbinski, deserves a tremendous amount of credit for taking leadership of the young people at Necedah High School who help Mark make up the treat bags needed for each and every home game. Bags also go to the visiting team from each contest and the event staff who make things possible, so it is a ton of work. The best part of the bags is the personal touch of a hand written note from a student at the high school and this is just a tremendous undertaking and it does not go unnoticed. Thank you Mark Horbinski and the WON 80 Organization at Necedah for the great work you do around sportsmanship. Keep up the excellence!

Reporting Official: Brian Kenney

Sportsmanship Plus - Boys Basketball

Big Foot @ McFarland
Feb. 4, 2020

I have had the privilege to officiate two games this season for Big Foot's boys varsity basketball program. The first game I officiated them in was early in the season they lost. The second game, they won. Although both games had different results, the sportsmanship and respect to opposing players and officials in both contests is what stood out the most to me. I thank the Big Foot players for showing good sportsmanship and staying composed in game situations where things could have escalated. Big Foot a helped opposing players up, chased after loose for the officials, staying composedd and ultimately playing their game. Thank you for being great examples of sportsmanship looks like at a TEAM level. To Coach Price and the rest of the coaching staff. Thank you for asking legitimate questions and hearing us out with your concerns throughout these contests and quite simply trusting us by letting us officials do our job while you do yours. Keep up the great work!

Reporting Official: Brooks McMahon

Sportsmanship Plus - Boys Basketball

Pardeeville @ Fall River
Jan. 24, 2020

I would like to commend both coaches on displaying outstanding sportsmanship during the game. The game had a great flow to it and both teams played extremely hard without any problems. I compliment both coaches for coaching their players and watching them play hard. Congratulations to both coaches!!

Reporting Official: Tim Wagner

Sportsmanship Plus - Boys Hockey

Waupun @ Fond du Lac
Jan. 31, 2020

This game was a big one for both schools. Not only would it determine who would make it to the the Badgerland Conference Tournament Championship game on Saturday, but it would also go a long way in determining seeding for postseason play. The game was fast paced and very clean. Waupun had zero penalties for the game and Fond du lac only had three or four. I was extremely impressed with the sportsmanship displayed by both teams. The student-athletes represented their schools and coaches, Coach Bucholz (Waupun) and Coach Sarazin (Fond du lac), to the highest degree. Well done young men!

Reporting Official: Ryan Reischel

Sportsmanship Plus - Girls Basketball

Newman Catholic @ Stratford
Jan. 21, 2020

This a complement to both head coaches, Jason Vander Elzen from Newman and Tammie Christopherson of Stratford. Both teams have been taught the right way to play defense and how to hustle. The entire evening they coached and my officiating crew officiated. It was a honor to officiate for both of these teams. The winners were both teams for the great example and teaching of both of these coaches. A very big thank you and keep up the great work.

Reporting Official: Dave Acaley

Sportsmanship Plus - Wrestling

Manawa @ Pittsville
Jan. 16, 2020

I commend Manawa and Pittsville for the atmosphere they created during their wrestling match. The night started like most others, but it was soon apparent that this was going to be a special night. Well before the contest started, the fans started filing in to show their support for the Pittsville coaches who were going to be honored that night in their final home dual after coaching for over 60+ combined years. Coaches Dan Hahn and Rick Winters of Pittsville have been great stewards of the sport for a very long time. The night started by acknowledging the support of the parents, then honoring the seniors, and finally, the recognition of the retiring coaches. All of this was before the contest ended in a tie. Through the entire contest, Coach Brad Johnson of Manawa, along with the Pittsville coaches, encouraged their wrestlers and never directed a negative comment towards me. All of the athletes on both teams fought hard and never showed displeasure with any call or the match result. It was a great night to be an official and accolades to both teams!

Reporting Official: Russ Lobner

Sportsmanship Plus - Girls Basketball

Little Chute @ Freedom
Jan. 16, 2020

I want to give a shout out to Freedom Activities Director Linda Olson. She was very gracious in greeting all of us and showing us where are locker room would be for the night’s game. Her coaches on both the varsity level, (Mike Vanderloop,) and junior varsity level were outstanding in coaching their players. The same could be said for their opponents, Little Chute coaches Shane Knudtson and Brian Garvey. The behaviors of both teams did not go unnoticed. Good Luck to both teams the rest of the season.

Reporting Official: Patrick Tschimperle

Sportsmanship Plus - Boys Basketball

Wausau West @ Chippewa Falls
Jan. 10, 2020

There are many things that make a great basketball game and amazing things happened that need to be shared and affirmed. It starts with game management and hospitality. Our game management staff was spot on–feeding us after the game, asking us how students are behaving and taking care of our needs to make us feel really important. Then the band–wow! The band at Chippewa Falls is incredible. Kudo's to the leaders of that group and the students who participate. A huge shout out goes to the student section.Often times we hear negative comments from student sections and we take great pride in showcasing when students show pride and respect themselves, their school, their community and their opponents. Hats off to their administration, students, coaching staff and fans for creating a great atmosphere on a Friday night. Makes it all worthwhile to see that kind of climate and culture.

Reporting Official: Brian Kenney