Sports Report PLUS

Rice Lake @ Baldwin-Woodville
Oct. 25, 2018

Rice Lake showed excellent sportsmanship in the face of a competitive game. Each time Rice Lake approached the officiating crew to ask a question, they did so politely and in a way that was trying to understand how or why a decision was being made (or not being made). I believe their tone and professionalism is a result of strong team culture created by their head coach. In the past several years, the boys head coach for Rice Lake has been polite and shown strong understanding of what youth athletics are about. He has been an excellent role model to his players and has never taken an inappropriate tone with an officiating crew I have been on. This sportsmanship "Plus" is many years coming. He has been great to work with in the past, and his influence on the players shows during games. It's high time some unsolicited feedback comes in for coaches doing a great job in youth sports.

Reporting Official:  David Nett

Blair-Taylor @ Highland
Oct. 19, 2018

Both schools demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship and professionalism.  ittle things such as helping an opponent up after a play, picking grass from an opponent's helmet, a player from Blair-Taylor, #50, came up to me early in the 2nd quarter, shook my hand thanking me for officiating. This not only demonstrated class on his part but from both schools.  This is certainly a reflection of the leadership of both teams.  

Reporting Official:  Curt Ladwig

Wisconsin Dells @ McFarland
Oct. 18, 2018


My partner and I would like to take the time to congratulate both McFarland and Wisconsin Dells for their demonstration of positive sportsmanship. Athletic Director Paul Ackley was on site when we arrived and greeted us and reviewed the schedule of events for the evening. We observed Paul using a proactive approach by the way he talked with the spectators prior to the match in regards to remaining off the floor during live balls for their safety. Both teams’ coaches (Fortune and Janke) and their assistants focused on coaching their players during the match and all we heard were words of postive encouragement to their players. We also want to recognize the players from both teams that thanked us at the end of the night for officiating as we exited the gym. Both communities can take pride as well with the spectators focusing on cheering on the players when they did something well on the floor. It felt great to experience a positive extension of the classroom during tonight's volleyball match. 

Reporting Official:  Wayne Hammes