Sportsmanship - Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association

Sportsmanship Plus - Baseball

St. Mary’s Springs @ Omro
April 11, 2024

Both the Omro and St. Mary’s school administrators should be very proud of their varsity baseball programs, both the players and coaches, for their display of positive sportsmanship during a recent contest. Nate Piper & Mason Boerner of Omro and Max Bauer & Ben Anderson of St. Mary’s Springs were obvious leaders of their teams, especially in showing respect for opponents as well as helping retrieve bats and foul balls during the contest. They offered many encouraging words to all involved, including some timely positive feedback for myself behind the plate, during high stress moments of the game. All were noticeably appreciative of their coaches, teammates, parents, and umpires. Great job all and best of luck the rest of the season!

Reporting Official: Brent Thompson

Sportsmanship Plus - Baseball

Appleton North @ Oshkosh West
April 9, 2024

The 2024 WIAA baseball season has started with many acts of positive Sportsmanship. Evan Johnson and Ryan Williamson led the Oshkosh West team by assisting opponents with bat retrieval, lots of hustle to and from their positions, and offering a kind hand of congratulations on a game well played. Matthew Hietpas, Brandon Schopf, and William Hoerner of Appleton North also added multiple acts of Sportsmanship by hustling to retrieve foul balls, purposely avoiding player to player contact in areas away from the active play, and to chase down a few Oshkosh players’ bats. We as umpires noticed these and many other positive acts of sportsmanship throughout the contest and very much appreciated them, thank you to both teams. Keep up the awesome work and have a great 2024 season!

Reporting Official: Brent Thompson

Sportsmanship Plus - Boys Basketball

New Richmond @ West Salem
Jan. 25, 2024

New Richmond’s Abraham Monson displayed excellent sportsmanship during the game. He was very encouraging to his teammates and would not get down on himself or teammates when the game was not going his way. Additionally, during two-shot free throws, Abraham came up to me after I made a foul call against his team and told me how much he appreciated me and my partners being here to allow him to play the game he loves. We were able to engage in a little small talk before the game was live again. His sportsmanship and kindness is a first class act example of positivity in youth sports, and is the reason why I officiate, for kids like him. He is an outstanding young man and a great role model for the New Richmond boys basketball program.

Reporting Official: Cade Murray

Sportsmanship Plus - Girls Basketball

Brown Deer @ South Milwaukee
Jan. 23, 2024

I was impressed by the sportsmanship shown by the coaches and players of Brown Deer. Neither complained nor argued a call. The coach was positive with his players and the players helpful in getting the ball when it went out of bounds or when a player needed help up from a fall. The coach thanked the crew for our efforts and for refereeing.

Reporting Official: Amy Siesennop

Sportsmanship Plus - Boys Basketball

Marion @ Lakeland
Jan. 15, 2024

In a game well in hand, Hakken Berklund of Lakeland made an incredible play at the rim resulting in a dunk over a Marion player. In many games, this type of play leads to taunting and excessive celebration. The entire gym rose to their feet, bench erupted in celebration, and players on the court watched in awe at the display of athleticism. Hakken immediately avoided any further contact and made no effort to celebrate his tremendous play over another player. As an official, I wanted to recognize what I felt was an exceptional display of sportsmanship by Hakken.

Reporting Official: Benjamin Hecke

Sportsmanship Plus - Girls Basketball

Marion @ Stockbridge
Jan. 11, 2024

We were greeted by Stockbridge Athletic Director Kati Forstner. She informed us that it was Winter Sports Appreciation Week. She walked us to our area where we would get dressed. We were pleasantly surprised to find a gift bag, which included a candy bar, a thank you card signed by all the boys and girls players and coaches from Stockbridge, and also a gift card to Kwik Trip. The Thank You card went like this: “...Thank you for all that you do as an official. We are grateful you're here and appreciate the sacrifices you make throughout the season." We were also recognized to the crowd shortly after the National Anthem. We would just like to let Stockbridge know how great this token of appreciation was received. Thanks again Stockbridge!

Reporting Official: Patrick Tschimperle

Fall Sportsmanship Awards Selected for Team Tournaments

STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association, in cooperation with Rural Mutual Insurance Company, has selected the team Sportsmanship Award winners for the 2023 fall State Tournaments.

Sportsmanship Plus - Girls Volleyball

Clintonville @ Shiocton
Oct. 3, 2023

Nicole Sasse committed a backrow attack in front of the attack line, and our crew missed it. At the end of the point that Clintonville won, Nicole came up to me and told me she had committed a backrow attack. We gave the point to the opponent and continued with a very close match that Clintonville lost. After the match I thanked Nicole for her honesty. Nicole's sportsmanship was well above and beyond what any player would have to do. Nicole thanked us for officiating their game. I have had Clintonville three times this year and Nicole is a great leader that really leads by example. Fantastic Sportsmanship!

Reporting Official: Adrian Van Acker

Sportsmanship Plus - Boys Soccer

Hartford @ Kettle Moraine Lutheran
Oct. 13, 2023

Both schools deserve a shoutout. The weather was cold, windy, and rainy, and the boys showed tremendous sportsmanship towards each other. The match was well-played and the players kept each other safe, and they remained in good spirits and had smiles on their faces the whole time. They thanked the officiating crew numerous times for being out there in the bad weather with them. Well done to both programs!

Reporting Official: Matt Miles

Sportsmanship Plus - Football

Greenwood@ Athens
Oct. 6, 2023

It’s a pleasure to work with Athen’s Athletic Director Guyler Luther. His communication prior to and during the contest is outstanding. Also, his and Athen’s hospitality was fantastic. Next, we would like to acknowledge the outstanding sportsmanship displayed by both teams, sidelines, and fans. Head Coaches Todd Diethelm and Dean Lindner educate, model and expect positive sportsmanship of their coaching staff and players. Both team’s sidelines were excited, encouraging, and great to communicate with. Also, both sidelines did an impeccable job in keeping their sidelines clean. Third, the players did an amazing job on the field. They worked and communicated well with officials, motivated their own teammates, provided the opposing team with words of praise, and helped each other off the turf. As a crew, we concluded that this was one of easiest and most enjoyable games we have officiated at any level as the coaches and athletes were respectful, positive, competitive, and having fun. Congratulations to Coach Diethelm as his program has been acknowledged for his sportsmanship in the past and hats off to Coach Lindner for the positive behavior of his young team. Applause to the communities of Athens and Greenwood and the educational and coaching leadership of those schools. It takes time and effort to train our youth on the importance of education, sports, leadership, and exhibiting positive sportsmanship.

Reporting Official: Shawn Umland