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.”
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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.”
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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.”
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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
2025 Scholar-Athlete Award Recipients Announced in Class C & D
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 4, 2025
The Michigan High School Athletic Association has selected 10 student-athletes from Class C and D member schools to receive scholarships through the MHSAA/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete Award program.
Farm Bureau Insurance, in its 36th 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 15 during the MHSAA Boys Basketball Finals at the Breslin Student Events Center in East Lansing.
The Class C Scholar-Athlete Award honorees are Dayne Behning, Munising; Kelcie Pung, Fowler; Isaiah Kabban, Harbor Beach; Trevor Nolan, Munising; and Wheatley Rodammer, Saginaw Valley Lutheran.
The Class D Scholar-Athlete Award recipients are Sarah Bradley, Clarkston Everest Collegiate; Ella Knudsen, Leland; Joshua Gaunt, Dollar Bay; and Dakota Malek, Fulton.
Overviews of the scholarship recipients of the Class C Scholar-Athlete Award follow. A quote from each recipient's essay also is included:
Dayne Behning, Munising
Played four seasons of varsity tennis and three of varsity volleyball, is playing her fourth of varsity basketball and will compete in her fourth of track & field this spring. Earned all-state in cross country, all-Upper Peninsula recognition in tennis and all-conference in volleyball and basketball; and earned academic all-state team and individual honors in cross country. Served as team captain of tennis and volleyball varsities. Serving in second year on student council with leadership roles as council vice president and also class vice president. Participating in fourth year of Key Club and as vice president. Participating in second year of National Honor Society, third in Youth in Government, third on yearbook staff and competing in first year of quiz bowl. Is considering attending Baker College to study veterinary technology.
Essay Quote: “The reality of high school athletics in the Upper Peninsula often means long bus rides and hours of travel for away games. This distance creates a unique dynamic among athletes, especially when you spend years competing against the same opponents. Over time, the girls on opposing teams become familiar faces – people you’ve grown up playing with. Through countless games and practices, rivalries evolve, and competition becomes a shared language. We end up being each other's biggest cheerleaders.”
Kelcie Pung, Fowler
Ran four years of varsity cross country, will compete in fourth season of track & field this spring and played varsity basketball as a sophomore and junior. Earned all-state in both cross country and track, the latter all of her first three seasons, and helped track team to Lower Peninsula Division 4 Finals championship last spring. Served as cross country team captain this past fall. Serving fourth year on school’s student athletic advisory council, and as president, and also serving as student council class secretary. Participating in fourth year with school’s LINKS program and serving as president for second year. Participating in third year of National Honor Society and fourth with school’s renaissance program for students with strong academics. Will attend Saginaw Valley State University and study upper elementary education.
Essay Quote: “Sportsmanship can be seen in the moments where adversity is overwhelming and where the outcome is far from expectation. In the depths of a difficult situation, there is a choice to make. The decision between sportsmanship or dwelling on defeat define one’s character. Just like other personal values, genuine sportsmanship is contagious and does not go unnoticed.”
Isaiah Kabban, Harbor Beach
Played two seasons of varsity football and will compete in fourth of track & field this spring; also played junior varsity basketball two seasons. Earned all-area in football and helped team to league and District championships. Earned all-state in powerlifting and twice qualified for state meet. Earned academic all-league in football and track. Served as football and track throws captain and coached middle school flag football and as varsity basketball student assistant. Will complete second associate degree before high school graduation. Serving on MHSAA Student Advisory Council and participated in student government throughout high school including as vice president. Served as representative for local district’s Congressional Youth Council. Serving as national director of ongoing legislation for American Youth Association and was a national spokesperson finalist for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Youth Leadership Council. Participated in American Legion Boys State and Boys Nation with leadership roles. Is undecided on which college he will attend, but intends to study public policy.
Essay Quote: “Sports only matter because we agree they do – and because of the relentless work we put into them. … (Sportsmanship is) what makes the game more than just a competition. It’s the foundation that gives sports their meaning, their stories, and their legacy.”
Trevor Nolan, Munising
Ran four years of varsity cross country, is playing his fourth of season of varsity basketball and will compete in fourth of track & field this spring; also played varsity football for the first time this past fall. Helped basketball team to 2023 Division 4 Finals championship and has earned all-state and academic all-state recognition in that sport. Won multiple league championships in cross country and earned all-Upper Peninsula honors, and was Finals relay champion in track. Earned all-conference honorable mention in football. Served as cross country and basketball team captain. Participating in second years of National Honor Society and Key Club and served on student council as a freshman as class president. Is undecided on which college he will attend, but intends to study physical therapy or kinesiology.
Essay Quote: “A coach once told me that the reason why high school sports are so successful is that they are great at teaching young kids how to mature into adults. There is no better way to teach kids how to develop great character than by teaching them the importance of sportsmanship. … Growing up, I was not always a good sport, but as I got older I learned the importance of sportsmanship through many important lessons.”
Wheatley Rodammer, Saginaw Valley Lutheran
Played four seasons of varsity soccer, is playing his second of varsity basketball and will compete in his fourth of track & field this spring. Earned all-league and all-District in soccer and contributed to academic all-state team. Qualified for MHSAA Track & Field Finals as part of relay. Served as captain of soccer and basketball teams. Participated two years in National Honor Society, four years in school’s Protect Life group and in STEM and Global Awareness clubs as a junior. Will serve as head timer for grade school track meets for fourth year this spring and head announcer for third year. Completed Great Lakes Area Leadership Camp. Will attend Saginaw Valley State University and study a business-related major.
Essay Quote: “Throughout my years in grade school and high school sports, I have often heard coaches repeat phrases like “practice makes perfect” and “you get out of it what you put into it.” These lessons have prepared me for life beyond sports. Having good sportsmanship is a personal choice that requires commitment. There is a significant difference between showing sportsmanship only when it feels convenient and displaying it consistently, no matter the circumstances. Educational athletics often throw curveballs your way, requiring you to remain composed and prepared at all times – not just when you feel like it.”
Other Class C girls finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were Baylee Goddard, Alcona; Kaylee Kranz, Clinton; Alexyn DuBois, Hanover-Horton; Grace Hayhurst, Harbor Springs; Allie Nowak, Johannesburg-Lewiston; Kate Mattson, Munising; Ashlyn Orr, New Lothrop; Tess Tillman, Royal Oak Shrine Catholic; and Makayla Zelinko, St Charles.
Other Class C boys finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were Lucas Hall, Bark River-Harris; Owen Heath, Bridgman; Jason Zarate, Brighton Charyl Stockwell Prep; Matthew Mellendorf, Cass City; Korbyn Russell, East Jordan; Carson Kienitz, Munising; Ian Weldon, Reese; Ben Denlinger, Roscommon; and Landon Pestrue, St Louis.
Overviews of the scholarship recipients of the Class D Scholar-Athlete Award follow. A quote from each recipient's essay also is included:
Sarah Bradley, Clarkston Everest Collegiate
Played four seasons of varsity volleyball, playing fourth of varsity basketball and also played varsity softball as a sophomore. Led volleyball team to Division 4 championships the last two seasons, making the all-state first team after both and earning honorable mention as a sophomore. Helped basketball team to District titles her first three seasons, earning all-state as a junior and academic all-state in that sport as well. Served as volleyball team captain three seasons and basketball her final two. Earned AP Scholar recognition and is ranked first in her graduating class with a 4.3 weighted grade-point average. Serving second year on student government, as vice president, and participating in second year of National Honor Society. Served as ECyD youth group team leader throughout high school and two years as yearbook senior editor. Will attend Calvin University and study nursing.
Essay Quote: “To truly have this pivotal quality, it is necessary to not only be a good winner but also a good loser. It is easy to congratulate the other team on playing well when the outcome is in your favor. However, it is much harder to look into the eyes of your opponent who just ended your season and tell them they played well.”
Ella Knudsen, Leland
Played four years of varsity golf and ran four seasons of cross country, is playing her third of varsity basketball and will compete in her fourth season of track & field this spring; also played varsity soccer as a freshman and sophomore. Earned all-state three times in cross country, once in track and all-conference in basketball, and earned academic all-state in those three sports and golf. Served as captain of cross country, basketball and track teams. Earned AP Scholar recognition and Rural and Small Town Award from College Board. Serves on MHSAA Student Advisory Council and is participating in third years on Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation Youth Advisory Council and as part of student government. Participating in second year of National Honor Society and third of National Art Honor Society, serving as president of both chapters and student council. Will attend Hope College and study kinesiology.
Essay Quote: “Over the years sportsmanship has been the driving force for me to connect with other competitors in our area. … These relationships have allowed me to care for others and in return I have been encouraged and motivated because of these connections over the course of high school.”
Joshua Gaunt, Dollar Bay
Ran four years of varsity cross country, playing fourth season of varsity basketball and will play fourth season of golf and compete in fourth season of track & field this spring. Helped cross country team to two Upper Peninsula Division 3 Finals championships and earned all-UP in track and golf. Served as basketball and cross country team captain multiple seasons. Serving fourth year on student council and as vice president, and participating in second year of National Honor Society and serving as chapter president. Serving as director of leadership while participating in fourth year of Student Leadership Advisory Council of the Keweenaw. Playing fourth year in school band and contributed to multiple festival superior ratings. Will attend Michigan Technological University and study mechanical engineering.
Essay Quote: “In educational athletics, sportsmanship is much more than just treating others with respect. It is about being honest with yourself and the game. … By showing integrity and embracing honesty, athletes not only honor the spirit of competition but also create a foundation for success in life. True sportsmanship ensures that victories are meaningful, challenges are overcome, and every moment in sports becomes a stepping stone toward becoming a better person.”
Dakota Malek, Fulton
Played two seasons of varsity football, wrestled two seasons and competed on track & field team as freshman and junior. Earned individual and team academic all-state honors in football and served as team captain his final two seasons. Participating in third year of National Honor Society and second as chapter president. Competing in fourth year of Business Professionals of America and is a three-time state competition qualifier. Participating for fourth year in school’s Above the Influence group and serving second year as student representative to school district’s board of education. Serving fourth year as broadcaster of school sporting events. Will attend Central Michigan University and study meteorology and broadcasting.
Essay Quote: “After the final whistle, I fell to the ground. I wanted to rewind and redo the play, but that wasn't possible. Instead, I got up and helped the Kingston defender up. I pulled it together, managed my emotions, and got in my last line to shake the opponents' hands. It was hard to see it in that moment, but that loss prepared me for the future. Losing my last game in that fashion prepared me to better manage my emotions and take responsibility.”
Other Class D girls finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were Keira Jean Graham, Bessemer; Molly Coppens, Chesterfield Austin Catholic; Ella Grace Gasperich, Crystal Falls Forest Park; Leah Durfee, Fife Lake Forest Area; Mallory Rich, Muskegon Catholic Central; and Kaitlyn Miros, Saginaw Nouvel.
Other Class D boys finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were Seth Davis, Adrian Lenawee Christian; Owen Plum, Britton Deerfield; Andrew Spiegel, Hillsdale Academy; Carter Kosinski, Kinde North Huron; Alex Tyndall, Mason County Eastern; and Grady Pieratt, Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart.
The Class B scholarship award recipients will be announced Feb. 11, and the Class A honorees will be announced Feb. 18.
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.