News

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 2016 winter State Tournaments.
The winners of the prestigious sportsmanship honor are Ashland in gymnastics, Eau Claire Memorial in boys ice hockey, the Beloit Co-op in girls ice hockey, Dominican in boys basketball, Mineral Point in girls basketball and Wisconsin Lutheran in wrestling.

Ashland receives its first Sportsmanship Award in gymnastics and its fifth recognition overall. They also were presented the honor for boys soccer in 2013, girls soccer in 2009 and 2013, and in summer baseball in 2005. The squad and their fans received positive evaluations for their support of all participants. The Oredockers placed fifth in the Division 2 State Gymnastics team championship in March. The schools and communities receiving honorable mention include Kenosha Bradford/Indian Trail/Tremper/Westosha Central, Madison Memorial, Manitowoc and River Falls.

Eau Claire  Memorial is the recipient of the Sportsmanship Award in boys hockey for the third time and for the first time since 2000. The Old Abes also earned the award in hockey in 1992. It is the ninth time the school and community have received the sportsmanship honor overall. They also received recognition in boys tennis in 2014; girls tennis in 1998, 2004 and 2011; girls soccer in 2005; and boys basketball in 1970. The Old Abes defeated the Antigo Co-op 5-1 in the quarterfinals before being eliminated from title contention by the Appleton East Co-op, 4-1, which won the State title. Honorable mention for the award went to Antigo/White Lake/Wittenberg-Birnamwood, Hudson, Onalaska and University School of Milwaukee.

The Beloit Co-op, which includes Beloit Memorial/Black Hawk/Clinton/Janesville Craig/Janesville Parker/ Milton/Monroe/Turner, wins its first sportsmanship award in girls hockey. The multi-school program was selected by event management and staff for its sportsmanship in relation to its support. The Fury was backed by four bands and 23 buses, which significantly contributed to a record attendance for the girls semifinal session. They fell 6-1 in their semifinal match-up with eventual champion Hayward/Ashland/Northwestern/Rice Lake/Shell Lake/Spooner. The D.C. Everest/Mosinee/Wausau East/Wausau West and University School of Milwaukee/Divine Savior Holy Angels/Nicolet/Shorewood/Whitefish Bay co-ops each received honorable mention.

After being named the Sportsmanship Award recipient in boys basketball last year, Mineral Point earned the award this year at the State Girls Basketball Tournament in Green Bay with its positive exhibition of sportsmanship. It’s the third time the Pointers have received the award overall, also receiving the honor in 2011 for team wrestling. The Pointers won the Division 4 State championship this season, defeating Kenosha St. Joseph 68-52 in the final after downing Regis 77-56 in the semifinals. Schools receiving honorable mention were Assumption, Barneveld, Clayton, Hayward and Regis.

Dominican won its unprecedented fifth straight championship in winning the Division 4 title at the State Boys Basketball Tournament in March and captured the school’s first Sportsmanship Award in the process. The Knights defeated  Aquinas 54-46 in the semifinals and Cameron in the title game, 62-43, to win the boys basketball program’s seventh overall State championship. Barneveld, Green Bay N.E.W. Lutheran and Prairie du Chien received honorable mention.

Wisconsin Lutheran was declared the winner of Sportsmanship Award in team wrestling. It was the first time the Vikings have received the award in any sport. They finished runner-up for the Division 2 championship, defeating River Valley 33-30 in the semifinals and falling to Ellsworth in the finals, 29-27. Fennimore, Hortonville, Kaukauna, Random Lake and River Valley received honorable mention for the award.

The WIAA/Rural Mutual Insurance sportsmanship award is presented to one school and community in each of the State team tournaments. The 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 insure support for their teams are positive and that the highest ideals of sportsmanship are upheld. Award winners receive a plaque and banner in recognition of the honor. Schools receiving honorable mention are acknowledged with a certificate of recognition. 

The selection process may include contributions and evaluations from contest officials, tournament management, police and security personnel, crowd control and ushers, WIAA staff members, area hotels and restaurants.
Rural Mutual Insurance has been a sponsor of this award for over 50 years, and their participation is essential to promoting sportsmanship and education-based athletics as a valued corporate partner of the WIAA.