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WIAA Announces Fall Sportsmanship Award Winners

12/17/2010, 9:00pm CST
By Travis Wilson

STEVENS POINT, Wis.-- The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association, in cooperation with Rural Mutual Insurance Company, has selected the team Sportsmanship Award winners for the 2010 Fall Championships.
    
The winners of the prestigious award are Green Bay Southwest in girls team tennis, Wisconsin Heights in girls volleyball, Marquette in boys volleyball, Aquinas in boys soccer and Brillion in football.
    
It is the first time Green Bay Southwest has won the Sportsmanship Award in girls team tennis and for the second time across all sports. The Fighting Trojans were also the recipient of the Sportsmanship Award in boys basketball in 1974. They fell to Homestead 7-0 in the Division 1 championship match of the State Girls Tennis Team Tournament. They advanced to the championship final by defeating Eau Claire Memorial 5-2 in the quarterfinals and Middleton 5-2 in the semifinals. Notre Dame received honorable mention for the award.
    
The large following and positive support for Wisconsin Heights at the State Girls Volleyball Championships earned the Vanguards their second sportsmanship award in the last three years in girls volleyball. They fell in their three-game, Division 3 semifinal match against 2009 champion Grantsburg. Receiving honorable mention for the award are Auburndale, Eau Claire North, McDonell Central, Pius XI and Valley Christian.
    
Marquette earns its third sportsmanship recognition in boys volleyball and its fifth overall. The Hilltoppers also received the honor for boys volleyball in 2002 and 2008, for summer baseball in 2006, and for boys tennis in 2008. They finished runner-up for the State title, falling to Catholic Memorial in three games in the championship final after defeating Franklin in the quarterfinals and Wauwatosa East in the semifinals. Honorable mention for the award went to Catholic Memorial, Greendale and Kaukauna.
    
Aquinas is the selection for the Sportsmanship Award winner at the Boys State Soccer Tournament.  It is the second Sportsmanship Award presented to the Blugolds and the first in boys soccer. They received the honor in basketball in 2007. The Blugolds defeated Newman Catholic 3-0 in the Division 3 semifinals and then fell to The Prairie School in the championship final, 5-0. Brookfield East, De Pere, Mount Horeb, Newman Catholic and Waukesha West received honorable mention for the award.
    
In football, Brillion was selected as the school and community displaying exemplary sportsmanship. It is the third time Brillion has been selected for the award in football. The Lions received the award in each of their back-to-back appearances in the title game in 2003 and 2004, making them the only school to have earned the award three times in football. The Lions defeated Colby 31-10 to win the Division 5 title. Receiving honorable mention were Catholic Central, Colby, Edgar, Gilman and West De Pere.            

The WIAA/Rural Insurance Sportsmanship Award is presented to one school and community in each of the State team tournaments that exemplifies outstanding sportsmanship. 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 trophy and banner in recognition of the honor. Schools receiving honorable mention are acknowledged with a certificate of recognition. The selection process includes contributions and evaluations from contest officials, tournament management, police and security personnel, crowd control and ushers, WIAA staff members, and area hotels and restaurants on occasion.

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