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STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association, in partnership with Rural Mutual Insurance Company, has selected the team Sportsmanship Award winners for the 2026 Spring State Team Tournaments.

The winners of the prestigious award are Fox Valley Lutheran in softball, Holmen in girls soccer, Hudson in boys team tennis and St. Croix Falls  in baseball. There were no recipients of the award in boys or girls lacrosse.

Fox Valley Lutheran received positive evaluations for the sportsmanship displayed by players, coaches and spectators at the 50th State Softball Tournament held in Madison on June 10-13. It’s the third time the Foxes have earned the honor overall and for the first time in softball. They also received sportsmanship awards for football in 2001 and in boys soccer in 2009. The third-seeded Foxes captured the Division 2 title with a 9-1 victory over Pewaukee in the championship game after defeating Turner 8-0 in the semifinals. The schools and communities receiving honorable mention include Appleton North, Athens, Blair-Taylor, Grantsburg, Hamilton, New Holstein, Pewaukee, Spooner, Stevens Point Area Senior High, Turner and Union Grove.

The sportsmanship displayed by Holmen at the State Girls Soccer Tournament at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee on June 18-20 prompted its selection as the WIAA/Rural Mutual Insurance Sportsmanship Award recipient for the first time in girls soccer and for the fifth time overall. The Vikings’ prior selections were for softball in 1999, gymnastics in 2007, and wrestling in both 2021 and 2025. As the fourth seed in Division 1, Holmen battled top-seeded Brookfield Central to a scoreless tie at the end of regulation before falling 1-0 in double overtime in their State semifinal game. Honorable mention for the award was extended to Aquinas, Brookfield Central and Rice Lake.

Hudson demonstrated respectful conduct and positive spectator support at the State Boys Team Tennis Tournament held at Nielsen Tennis Stadium in Madison on June 12-13. The seventh-seeded Raiders fell 7-0 to second-seeded Whitefish Bay in the Division 1 semifinals. It’s the first time the Raiders have been named as the recipient of the award in boys tennis and fifth across all sports. They were recognized for their sportsmanship in girls soccer in 1996, boys soccer in 1998, gymnastics in 2018 and girls basketball in 2021. Altoona and Neenah received honorable mention for the award.

St. Croix Falls was selected as the award recipient for the State Baseball Tournament held in Grand Chute and Appleton on June 15-18. It’s the second time the Saints have received the award. They were also recognized with the award for baseball in 2022. As the top seed in the Division 3 bracket, positive sportsmanship evaluations followed a 6-5 loss to fourth-seeded Dodgeville in the semifinals. Columbus Catholic, Kenosha St. Joseph Catholic, Loyal, Potosi/Cassville and River Falls  received honorable mention for the award.

The WIAA/Rural Mutual Insurance Sportsmanship Award is presented to one school program and community–or communities in the case of cooperative programs–that demonstrates outstanding sportsmanship in WIAA team tournaments. Award winners are determined by the conduct and 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 is positive and showcases the highest ideals of sportsmanship.

The selection process includes evaluations from contest officials, tournament management, as well as security personnel, crowd control and ushers, and WIAA staff members. Rural Mutual Insurance began sponsoring the Sportsmanship Award program back in 1965.

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 29 junior high/middle level schools in its membership.

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