Valued Leaders Talk Sportsmanship
April 12, 2013
By Rob Kaminski
MHSAA benchmarks editor
Anyone who has attended an MHSAA sporting event has undoubtedly heard the public address announcements touting sportsmanship.
Sportsmanship is one of many lessons taught through school sports. But are today’s student-athletes the willing pupils in the subject? Or are too many kids opting for elective courses in showmanship offered via YouTube and cable networks?
While many involved in high school athletics have noticed a decline in sportsmanship, it’s not too late to inject this valuable ingredient back into our games. But efforts need to begin at the local level, and the scholastic environment needs to supplant community venues where poor sportsmanship often flourishes.
Seventeen coaches from all over the state chipped in to a benchmarks town hall discussion on sportsmanship.
East Kentwood’s Dave Emeott: “I think it is easy to see that sportsmanship is at least diminished. I think sportsmanship starts in the home, but we cannot always depend on the household to teach these lessons. As we sit in the stands, we realize that if this is where they learn it, then we need to get to work. I think we need to teach parents what a good sport looks like, as well as students. It is apparent that students will be the kind of sports they are permitted to be. Most coaches want good sportsmanship, but struggle with the balance of teaching character and winning or losing.”
Middleville Thornapple-Kellogg’s Tamara Benjamin: “Sportsmanship could be endangered. If a parent is allowed to sit in the stands and berate coaches, officials, and other athletes, it’s difficult for our students to see that this behavior is wrong because it is being tolerated. My expectations for our girls’ behavior are made clear the first day of practice. I hold them accountable for themselves, and we go forward each day.”
Holland’s Don Kimble: “I believe that it starts at home; always looking for a reason for failure opens the door to unsportsmanlike behavior. On our team, sportsmanship is stressed within the team first; if you cannot be a sportsman to your teammates, then you cannot be to others.”
Grand Haven’s Kimberly Vincent: “We’re all about sportsmanship and work with students and parents to set expectations. There are too many people pointing fingers at other people about this subject, and I think coaches have to set the example.”
Battle Creek Pennfield’s Mike Roach: “Youth sports programs need to concentrate on sportsmanship and the fact that there are winners and losers in sports. By not keeping score, the kids do not learn how to win, nor do they learn how to handle losing. Keep score. Teach kids that it is not the end of the world to lose, but be gracious in winning and losing.”
***
It could be true that much of the focus on poor sportsmanship is a result of just that: the spotlight on poor sportsmanship, rather than the good.
Thornapple-Kellogg’s Abby Kanitz: “I think that too much focus is put on the unsportsmanlike situations. There is much more good out there than bad; it just doesn't make for great stories. It does not take much more than one bad situation to ruin a game, competition or meet. I think sportsmanship comes from the coach. If your athletes know you have high expectations in this area, then their parents will know, too.”
Allegan’s Gary Ellis: “Sportsmanship is alive and well, though it is under attack. Students are exposed to so many examples of poor to horrendous sportsmanship on TV, that it seems to be the norm.”
Bloomfield Hills Andover’s David Zulkiewski: “I see positive sportsmanship every day with my athletes, and that’s because we focus on it and make it part of our daily practice and competition. Our team is much more than swimming or diving; it’s about excelling at life. So many of our kids will not compete in athletics after high school, so we try to give them skills they can use in the real world. Being a good sport is one of those skills.”
Grand Haven’s James Richardson: “Kids want and need structure, and will uphold the guidelines as long as they are clearly defined and enforced consistently. As coaches we need to build relationships with the kids and teach them proper behavior, and serve as models for them.”
Holt’s Mike Van Antwerp: “Sportsmanship is still around. If kids respect their opponents as individuals, they are good sports. Most of them would get along well if they were on the same team, so it’s important they realize that. The kids they play against are no different from them. If they respect the game, respecting their opponent follows.”
***
To be sure, no coach worth his or her clipboard sets out to allow poor sportsmanship. But emphasizing proper conduct early and often should be as essential as conducting tryouts.
Munising’s Cathy Mutter: “Sportsmanship is an important part of high school sports and life in general. I always tell my athletes, ‘You do not deserve; you earn. You have to work hard, be positive and be fair.’ I teach them to strive to be the best they can be on the team, in the classroom, at the jobs they have, and at home in their family life. Many programs struggle due to the fact they do not work together as a unit. You are only as strong as your weakest link.”
Rockford’s Ed Van Portfliet: “The O-K Conference and the member schools have done a great job of promoting sportsmanship, and I think it’s alive and well in our area. We teach our players it’s important to play hard, but they also have to respect their opponent and the game. We don’t tolerate actions or play from our players that would be considered disrespectful or detrimental to the game.”
Warren Regina’s Diane Laffey: “We always talk sportsmanship at our team meetings, our parent meetings and our coaches meetings. I guess it is an endangered species in some areas – but I do not feel it has gotten anywhere near that point at our school. I make every effort to make sure that our athletes, teams, coaches and parents keep sportsmanship at the top of our list.”
Allegan’s Ellis: “Leagues have a responsibility to educate their students about proper behavior at high school athletic events and how to treat their opponents. Schools need to develop leaders – on teams and in the stands – who set the tone at contests. The biggest trophy given out at our year-end awards night is the sportsmanship trophy.”
Marshall’s Sue Hutchings: “Sportsmanship starts with the coaching staff respecting the players and hammering the philosophy home. If one of our players exhibits bad sportsmanship, they are taken out of the competition and made to apologize. And trust me, it has happened. Our conference coaches are all pretty tight and have worked together for a number of years. We all share the same philosophy and have very, very little trouble with bad sportsmanship.”
***
Sometimes, proper sportsmanship is simply woven into the fabric of a given sport.
Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern/Forest Hills Eastern’s Brian Telzerow: “Sportsmanship in golf is the leader in integrity. There is no other sport that is as self-policing as is golf. The young men and women must play with honor and integrity, calling penalties on themselves with no referees present. There is no entitlement here. After we play, players shake hands with all other competitors in their groups. We also make it a practice to say thanks to the host team and to the host course personnel. This is intentional to instill gratitude for the privilege of playing this sport.”
Portland’s Jim Niebling: “Sportsmanship may very well be endangered, but not in high school tennis and certainly not on our teams in Portland. Just this season my No. 1 singles player was playing his arch rival in the league championship match. They had gone back and forth for years and both knew the implication of winning the match for the upcoming Regional and Final tournaments where they were surely going to have to play again. The loser would be seeded lower and would have decidedly more difficult draws. But when the other player, up a set, began to cramp in the second set, looking like he may not be able to finish the match, my player walked to his cooler, pulled out a Gatorade and handed it to his opponent.
“My player ended up losing that match, and he knew that was a possibility when he handed his opponent that Gatorade. If that’s not sportsmanship, I don’t know what is.”
Grand Haven’s Richardson: “Sportsmanship is promoted on our team because in wrestling we are only in charge of ourselves and our actions. It’s a sport that holds individuals accountable. It is difficult in our sport to place blame on others.”
Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills/Grandville’s Brenda McDonald: “I always have my girls practice good sportsmanship. They always thank the home team or say, ‘Good job,’ to the opposing team. Many of the girls know the girls on other teams from previous gymnastics classes, so they enjoy seeing them again.”
High School Coaches Survey Identifies Parental Concerns
More than 3,000 high school coaches and athletic directors responded to a nationwide survey conducted by Growing Great Relationships (GGR) in cooperation with the National High School Coaches Association (NHSCA). The purpose of the survey was to understand what coaches and athletic directors see as their greatest needs concerning coach-parent and coach-athlete communication and relationships. GGR and NHSCA will use the results to design training and programs that address the identified needs.
The first section of the survey addressed issues surrounding parents of athletes. The first question asked coaches about their greatest concerns dealing with parents. More than 50 percent indicated over-involved parents as their No. 1 concern.
The second question asked coaches what they think parents are most concerned about. Overwhelmingly, nearly 80 percent reported the child’s amount of playing time as their perception of a parent’s biggest issue.
The next question asked coaches who are the most difficult parents. Athlete “wanna bes” were identified by 55 percent of the respondents.
Coaches then were asked what parents should do to support them. More than 70 percent indicated keeping them informed of personal difficulties their child was having at home. This was followed by 63 percent asking parents not to use social media regarding the team, or to gossip about the team or the coach’s expertise. Athletic directors’ responses were similar but with different percentages. Nearly 73 percent ranked not using social media or gossip about the team as the most important.
The second section of the survey asked coaches about their greatest concerns regarding relationships with their athletes. The first question asked coaches about the challenges they face communicating with student-athletes. Nearly 58 percent indicated an athlete receiving contradictory advice from parents and other coaches/advisers. This was followed closely with 55 percent stating an athlete’s inflated belief about his or her ability. Athletic director responses were similar but with somewhat different percentages. The greatest response, 70 percent, was the athlete receiving contradictory advice.
The second question asked the coaches for other factors interfering with their relationships with their student-athletes. The factor indicated by 58 percent of coaches was an athlete over-burdened with competing school demands (clubs, academics). For this particular question, the response from the athletic directors closely matched the coaches.
Athletic directors were asked that in their role what are their greatest concerns dealing with parents and athletes. The most frequent answer by 76 percent of athletic directors was parents bypassing coaches to complain directly to them.
In addition, nearly 500 coaches and athletic directors wrote in additional concerns that they have in their ability to communicate and work with athletes and their parents.
– Richard & Jane: Relationship Coaching
Scholars & Athletes 2022: Class B
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 15, 2022
The Michigan High School Athletic Association has selected nine student-athletes from Class B member schools to receive scholarships through the MHSAA/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete Award program.
Farm Bureau Insurance, in its 33rd year of sponsoring the award, will give $2,000 college scholarships to 32 individuals who represent their member schools in at least one sport in which the Association sponsors a postseason tournament. The first 30 scholarships are awarded proportionately by school classification and the number of student-athletes involved in those classes; also, there are two at-large honorees who can come from any classification.
Students applying for the Scholar-Athlete Award must be carrying at least a 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) grade-point average and have previously won a letter in a varsity sport in which the Michigan High School Athletic Association sponsors a postseason tournament. Other requirements for the applicants were to show active participation in other school and community activities and produce an essay on the importance of sportsmanship in educational athletics.
The 32 scholarship recipients will be recognized March 26 during the MHSAA Boys Basketball Finals at the Breslin Student Events Center in East Lansing.
The Class B Scholar-Athlete Award honorees are: Maggie Duba, Grand Rapids West Catholic; Whitney Farrell, Freeland; Claire Meacham, Montague; Rylee Tolson, Stockbridge; Derek Distelrath, St. Clair; Joseph Hayes, Shelby; Curtis Knapp, Jonesville; Michael A. Meneguzzo, Kingsford; and Jack Rellinger, Grand Rapids Catholic Central.
Overviews of the scholarship recipients of the Class B Scholar-Athlete Award follow. A quote from each recipient's essay also is included:
(NOTE: If an athlete intended to play and was part of a spring sports team in 2020, that sport is counted among the athlete’s total although the season was canceled due to COVID-19.)
Maggie Duba, Grand Rapids West Catholic
Ran four seasons of varsity cross country, and will play her fourth of varsity lacrosse and participate in her fourth of track & field this spring. Qualified three times for MHSAA Finals in cross country and earned all-state as a senior. Also earned academic all-state and served as cross country team captain. Ranked second academically in class of 125 entering this school year carrying 4.375 GPA with 12 dual-enrollment college credits earned. Participating in National Honor Society and has served three years as student government class secretary. Serving as junior and senior class peer advocate and has participated in a variety of volunteer and community service efforts. Will attend University of San Diego and study business accountancy and economics with the intention of continuing to medical school and studying to become a general surgeon.
Essay Quote: “In the split moment that I threw away an opportunity to achieve all-state, a position that I had prioritized for the five months of training before, I remembered that this is all supposed to be fun. … By sacrificing the race, I gained something much more important than posting my best time. I grew in humility and developed a new perspective on sports and competing.”
Whitney Farrell, Freeland
Playing fourth season of varsity basketball, ran four seasons of cross country and will participate in her fourth of track & field in the spring. Qualified for MHSAA Finals in cross country and track and helped 2019 basketball team to Division 2 runner-up finish. Earned all-state in cross country and track and all-conference in basketball, and served as captain of all three teams. Serving third year on student council and second as part of National Honor Society, and also participating in fourth years of Be The Change club and Students Leading Students. Served as youth basketball coach and referee throughout high school. Will attend Ferris State University and study architecture.
Essay Quote: “Prior to my 2019-20 varsity basketball season, I truly believed that good sportsmanship was offering to help an opponent up off the court or shaking every single opponent's hand after a game. I had participated in sports since the age of 3 and that was sportsmanship in action. However, my experience with and understanding of sportsmanship completely changed throughout the 2019-20 basketball season … (as) each of our opponents was metaphorically helping us up off the court by recognizing the loss of our beloved coach.”
Claire Meacham, Montague
Playing third season of varsity basketball, played two seasons of varsity golf and will participate in her third season of track & field this spring; also played varsity volleyball as a freshman and varsity softball as a junior. Helped golf team to two MHSAA Finals championships, the track team to a Regional victory and the basketball team to league and District titles. Earned all-state recognition in golf and academic all-state in track and golf, and served as captain of track and basketball teams. Participating in second year of National Honor Society and has served as chapter president, and is serving second year as part of student senate. Participated in Future Farmers of America and DECA throughout high school, serving as a DECA officer and reaching state finals competition as part of both. Participates in various volunteer efforts as part of church and community organizations. Is undecided where she will attend college but intends to study civil engineering.
Essay Quote: “No matter the outcome, every athlete, coach, and individual has to remember that we are all part of a bigger game. We are all striving to improve the game and ourselves through personal growth and dedication. We are supposed to be preparing our athletes to be model citizens who set standards for what is right and just, on and off the court.”
Rylee Tolson, Stockbridge
Playing third season of varsity basketball, ran four seasons of cross country and participated two seasons in track & field. Qualified for MHSAA Cross Country Finals all four seasons, earned all-state three times and won Lower Peninsula Division 3 title as a sophomore. Served as captain of cross country and track teams. Serving fourth year on student council including second as an executive officer, and has served as class vice president. Participating in second year of National Honor Society and serving as chapter president. Playing fourth years of marching and concert band and third of jazz band, and served as section leader for drumline. Participating in third years of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and peer-to-peer assistance program. Will attend University of Michigan and study kinesiology.
Essay Quote: “I try my best to be a support system for everyone around me all of the time. Supporting others includes time outside of sports. Tutoring after school before practice, waking up early to prepare for a National Honors Society meeting, or helping a teammate during lunch with a class that I have already taken allows me to help my peers strive to be their best academically.”
Derek Distelrath, St. Clair
Played four seasons of varsity tennis and is playing his first of varsity basketball this winter. Finished No. 1 singles runner-up in Lower Peninsula Division 3 as a sophomore and made semifinals as a junior and senior. Won United States Tennis Association Midwest singles and national doubles championships. Earned academic all-state in tennis all four high school seasons and twice served as team captain. Participating in third year of National Honor Society and serving as vice president, and participating in second year of student council and serving as spirit corps leader. Participating in fourth year on St. Clair County Community Foundation Youth Advisory Council, including second on executive board. Served as youth tennis coach throughout high school and as youth basketball coach as a senior. Will attend Western Michigan University and study business analytics and statistics.
Essay Quote: “Compete intensely but honor and respect opponents. If athletes transfer this lesson into life, the world would be a much better place because we would take the time to get to know people who differ from us and treat each other with honor and respect. We would seek to unite people instead of divide them.”
Joseph Hayes, Shelby
Playing fourth season of varsity basketball, played three of boys soccer and will play third of baseball in the spring. Helped soccer team to Regional championship and baseball team to District title. Earned all-league and all-District in soccer and all-conference recognition in basketball. Served as soccer team captain multiple seasons. Participating in second year of National Honor Society and has served as president, and also participating in fourth year of local Youth Advisory Council. Played two years in school band earning “1” ratings, and has participated in 4-H throughout high school earning “A” awards for showing of livestock. Is undecided where he will attend college but intends to study business and entrepreneurship.
Essay Quote: “One of the things that I dislike the most as an athlete is not just losing, but losing to a team full of players that are disrespectful to me and my team. Being a good sport during high school educational athletics is very important. Learning how to control your emotions and demonstrate great sportsmanship at a young age will lead you to demonstrate those qualities as an adult.”
Curtis Knapp, Jonesville
Playing third season of varsity basketball and played four seasons of varsity football. Earned all-state in football and set three school records in the fall. Earned Big 8 Conference Leadership Award multiple years and served as captain of both varsity teams. Carries 4.022 GPA. Serving fourth year as student council class president and participating in second year of National Honor Society. Participating in fourth year of Students Against Destructive Decisions and is a leader of that group as well. Has participated in various volunteer efforts with Rotary Club, Habitat for Humanity and 4-H. Started and owns lawn and landscaping business. Will attend Hillsdale College and study economics.
Essay Quote: “My definition of sportsmanship is the general respect you have for another team or player. … I have grown so much as a person through my four years in high school sports. I am thankful for the opportunity to build relationships with not only people from my own school, but also people that I have played in sports. I learned that sportsmanship is the most important part of sports, and that the overall goal is to have fun.”
Michael A. Meneguzzo, Kingsford
Playing third season of varsity basketball, played two of varsity football and will compete in third of track & field in the spring; also played varsity tennis as a freshman. Holds multiple school football records and earned all-Upper Peninsula recognition in that sport. Earned runner-up finish at Track & Field Finals. Served as captain of football and basketball teams. Participating in second year of National Honor Society and fourth of key club. Served as school’s representative on Youth Coalition and as French club vice president. Served more than 100 hours of volunteer service including for American Red Cross, Salvation Army and at youth football and basketball camps. Is undecided where he will attend college, but intends to study business.
Essay Quote: “I have always been very competitive. … (But) whenever I exhibited poor body language or questionable sportsmanship, my dad would talk to me after the game about how my actions affect the team and also, how they make me look as an athlete. My dad … has always held me to a different level than other players when it came to sportsmanship and body language during a competition.”
Jack Rellinger, Grand Rapids Catholic Central
Played three seasons of varsity football and will play second of varsity lacrosse in the spring; also played two seasons of subvarsity basketball. Helped football team to three MHSAA Finals championships and lacrosse team to District title. Earned all-league in football and academic all-state in lacrosse, and served as captain of lacrosse team and subvarsity basketball teams. Carries 4.5 GPA and posted “5” score on six Advanced Placement exams as a junior. Received National Merit Scholarship “commended” recognition and earned Harvard Book Award. Serving as head boy for his house as part of student government. Serving second year as student ambassador for Van Andel Institute biomedical research organization and participating in second year of National Honor Society. Is leaning toward attending Notre Dame University and intends to study computer engineering.
Essay Quote: “I think this is what sportsmanship is really all about. An appreciation for the game and the players objectively, regardless of the outcome. When you really step back to look at it, wins and losses make up such a small part of what makes high school sports great. These sports are made special through the bonds formed and shared between coaches, players, and even opponents, as well as a true, unbridled appreciation for the game.”
Other Class B girls finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were: Elise Rose Johnson, Benzie Central; Sydni Mudge, Birch Run; Claire Thomson, Clawson; Faith Breinager, Frankenmuth; Emma Kerkau, Frankenmuth; Sophia Argyle, Freeland; Haley Zerlaut, Fremont; Magdalaina Menghini, Kingsford; Mallory Moore, Ortonville Brandon; Paige Thwing, Ortonville Brandon; Alina Stanczak, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep; and Ashley Bower, Portland.
Other Class B boys finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were: Zachary Elmouchi, Ada Forest Hills Eastern; Thomas Hamann, Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard; Jeff Ren, Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood; Jace DeRosia, Chelsea; Jared Hanson, Escanaba; Liam Anderson, Essexville Garber; Alex Duley, Freeland; Seth Thompson, Manistee; Jerome Korten, Marshall; Cale Coppess, Montague; and Bennett Blase Hitzelberger, Richmond.
The Class C and D scholarship award recipients were announced Feb. 8, and the Class A honorees will be announced Feb. 22.
Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan was founded in 1949 by Michigan farmers who wanted an insurance company that worked as hard as they did. Those values still guide the company today and are a big reason why it is known as Michigan’s Insurance Company, dedicated to protecting the farms, families, and businesses of this great state. Farm Bureau Insurance agents across Michigan provide a full range of insurance services—life, home, auto, farm, business, retirement, Lake Estate®, and more—protecting nearly 500,000 Michigan policyholders.
The MHSAA is a private, not-for-profit corporation of voluntary membership by more than 1,500 public and private senior high schools and junior high/middle schools which exists to develop common rules for athletic eligibility and competition. No government funds or tax dollars support the MHSAA, which was the first such association nationally to not accept membership dues or tournament entry fees from schools. Member schools which enforce these rules are permitted to participate in MHSAA tournaments, which attract more than 1.4 million spectators each year.