WIAA singles out baseball team’s fans
By Greg Seubert
state championship trophy isn’t the only hardware Waupaca High School picked up from this year’s WIAA State Spring Baseball Tournament.
The school is one of six to receive or share a WIAA/Rural Mutual Insurance Sportsmanship Award for spring and summer sports. The WIAA selected the winners in partnership with Rural Mutual Insurance Co., which has sponsored the award for more than 50 years.
Other schools receiving awards are Delavan-Darien (softball), Neenah (boys’ tennis), Belleville/New Glarus (girls’ soccer) and Menomonee Falls (summer baseball).
The Comets won the Division 2 spring baseball title – the first in the program’s history – with a 2-0 win over defending state champion Milwaukee Lutheran June 16 in Grand Chute.
It’s the second time Waupaca has won the award, as the Comets also received the recognition in football in 2012 following the Division 3 championship game.
Schools receiving honorable mention for spring baseball include Burlington, Eau Claire North, Kimberly, Markesan, Pepin/Alma, Prairie du Chien, Unity and West Salem.
Other programs receiving honorable mention are New London, Divine Savior Holy Angels, Grantsburg, Kenosha Tremper, New Berlin West, Northwestern/South Shore, Oakfield, Pulaski and Union Grove (softball); Aquinas, Eau Claire Memorial, Lake Country Lutheran/University Lake, Madison West, Notre Dame, Pulaski and Seymour (girls’ soccer); Edgewood (boys’ tennis); and Oak Creek (summer baseball).
Criteria for the award include 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 that the highest ideals of sportsmanship are upheld.
The selection process includes evaluations from contest officials, tournament management, security personnel, crowd control, ushers and WIAA staff members.
Award winners receive a plaque and banner in recognition of the honor, while schools receiving honorable mention are acknowledged with a certificate of recognition.