By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
New Glarus students attend WIAA Sportsmanship Summit
ng sportsmanship
The team members representing New Glarus High School were, from left, athletic director Brittany Spencer Grant, Conor McCoy, Connor Siegenthaler, Mason Thompson, Adam Nelson and Brooke Watrud.

NEW GLARUS — Six individuals representing New Glarus High School and the community attended the 2018 Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association/Rural Mutual Insurance Sportsmanship Summit in Stevens Point Dec. 12.           

More than 725 participants on 122 teams representing 106 member high schools attended the summit. Each school was represented by a team of students, school administrators, coaches, school board members and community leaders.

The mission of the Sportsmanship Summit was to strengthen the principles of sportsmanship by promoting teamwork through networking and the sharing of resources, and instilling the motivation to make a difference.

The summit featured two keynote addresses and three time slots for five different break-out sessions, which focus on the ideals of sportsmanship/citizenship. The morning keynote address was presented by Craig Hillier, author of “Playing Beyond the Scoreboard.” The afternoon keynote address was presented by Lance Allan, sports anchor at WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee.

Participants also attended three morning break-out sessions. The subjects for the five 40-minute break-out presentations available during the three time slots were “The Coach and Participants Roles in Sportsmanship” by Mark Maas, veteran teacher and coach, and state track and field color commentator on the NFHS Network; “Obtaining Victory with Virtue” by Mark Horbinski of WON80 and a member of the WIAA Sportsmanship Committee; “Sportsmanship: The Official’s Perspective” by Thaddeaus Hilliard, veteran WIAA licensed official; “Peer Sportsmanship Leadership” by Athletic Directors Aaron May of Waunakee and Sportsmanship Committee member, and Eric Nee of Sun Prairie; and “Sportsmanship Roundtable Discussions” moderated by Amy Vesperman, superintendent at Plum City, and Jenny Bandow, athletic director at Luxemburg-Casco. They are also members of the WIAA Sportsmanship Committee.

Together, schools, parents, booster clubs and communities can establish standards and expectations regarding good sportsmanship. Sportsmanship and good citizenship are the responsibility of everyone.