Wisconsin High School Sports | Wisconsin Sports Network | WisSports.net

STEVENS POINT, Wis.-- The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association, in cooperation with Rural Mutual Insurance Company,  has selected the team Sportsmanship Award winners for the 2009 Fall Championships.



The winners of the prestigious award are West De Pere in football, Oshkosh West in girls team tennis, Cuba City in girls volleyball, Middleton in boys volleyball and Fox Valley Lutheran in boys soccer.



It is the first time West De Pere has won the Sportsmanship Award in any sport. The Phantoms fell to Reedsburg, 34-27, in the State Division 3 championship final last month. Receiving honorable mention for the award in football were Arcadia, Edgar, Kimberly and Reedsburg.



The sportsmanship efforts of Oshkosh West at the Girls State Team Tennis Tournament earned the school its second Sportsmanship Award overall and its first in girls tennis. The Wildcats other recognition came in boys tennis in 1999. Oshkosh West finished runner-up in Division 1, advancing to the championship match before falling to Homestead, 6-1. Altoona and Notre Dame received honorable mention for the award.



The positive support Cuba City received at the State Girls Volleyball Championships earned the Cubans their second sportsmanship award in the last three years and their third overall in girls volleyball. They also earned the award in 2007 and 2003. In addition, Cuba City has won the sportsmanship award in gymnastics four times as a member of a co-op with Southwestern. The Cubans finished runner-up in Division 3 this fall, defeating Auburndale in the semifinal before dropping a three-game match to Grantsburg in the final. Receiving  honorable mention for the award are Auburndale, D.C. Everest, Divine Savior Holy Angels, Highland, Laconia, Manitowoc Lutheran, Middleton, Newman Catholic and Tomahawk.



Middleton earns its first sportsmanship award in boys volleyball and its third overall. The Cardinals two other recognitions came in boys tennis, one last spring and the other in 2007. They fell in a five-game match to Kettle Moraine in the quarterfinals, which has since been declared a forfeited because of Kettle Moraine s use on an ineligible player. Honorable mention for the award went to Marquette.



Fox Valley Lutheran is the selection for the sportsmanship award at the Boys State Soccer Tournament.  It is the second sportsmanship award presented to the Foxes. They also received the honor in football in 2001. The Foxes won the Division 2 championship by defeating Sparta, 4-1, in the semifinal and Catholic Memorial, 1-0, in the title game. Arrowhead, Catholic Memorial, De Pere, Kenosha Tremper, Madison Edgewood, Marquette, McDonell Central/Regis, Racine St. Catherine s, Sparta and Winnebago Lutheran received honorable mention for the award.



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 plaque 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.