Each year student athletes chosen as team leaders from Federal League schools attend a retreat in Loudonville called Camp Nuhop.

For two days they talk and think through key areas that need to be addressed both league-wise and within their prospective schools. During last year’s retreat, the students recognized sportsmanship was a prime area for improvement.

Not only did they realize the importance of modeling sportsmanship to fellow athletes, but to fans and citizens of their communities alike. “Recognizing what is and isn’t appropriate during a sporting event can change the face of sports culture,” stated Bruce Brown, Lake High’s athletic director.

Lake senior Scott Mattingly, who attended the camp, suggested recognizing schools that do a good job of raising the bar when it comes to sportsmanship. Criteria for a Federal League Sportsmanship Award was shaped and established for this past school year. After each sports season, Federal League teams in every sport would vote for the school whose team displayed the overall best sportsmanship for the entire season. To earn the title, teams must demonstrate honesty, responsibility and respect for teammates, opponents and themselves.

Some of the criteria involved were: shake hands after games, respect others and the spirit of competition, win with class; lose with dignity, have self control, demonstrate ethics, integrity and character and lead by example. Additionally, it was stated that respect for opponents is demonstrated by our actions and our words and under no circumstances may any kind of negative action be taken against others.

No sports team was permitted to vote for itself.

“We were pleased that the student athletes from Lake High School won this award in its inaugural year,” stated Brown. “It is a tribute to the kind of athletes and leaders we have in our community to effectively change the face of sports in this positive manner,” he said.  “We are not perfect, but we have been willing as a school and a league to look at where we have been and realize that changes have to be made in the way we approach participating and attending sporting events,” Brown informed. “We are definitely moving in the right direction."