Murray State University Athletics
Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics
Racers Honored With OVC Sportsmanship Award
11/16/2016 11:27:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
The Murray State women's cross country team was honored Wednesday with the Ohio Valley Conference 2016-17 Team Sportsmanship Award.
The OVC honor marks the second time in the 12 years the award has been given that the MSU women's team has been recognized. MSU was also honored in 2010.
"One thing that I love about our team is regardless of the outcome of our race they always are more inclined to build others up rather than tear them down," Racers' coach Jenny Swieton said. "They're truly great people that believe in themselves and they effort enough to still be able to see the greatness in others regardless of the uniform they wear. I believe that is the culture of our sport and it's very exciting that others see that as well."
The OVC Sportsmanship Award is voted on by the student-athletes and coaches of the respective sports and given to the team that has best exhibited the standards of sportsmanship and ethical behavior as outlined by the OVC and NCAA. Included in the areas for evaluation are the conduct of student-athletes, coaches, staff and administrators and fans.
"Without sportsmanship there are truly no meaningful victories," said Beth DeBauche, OVC Commissioner. "The recipients of the OVC Team Sportsmanship awards should accept this award with great pride for their fellow competitors have made it clear their teams exemplify the best in intercollegiate athletics. In receiving this prestigious honor other competitors are saying these student-athletes compete with class, respect their opponents and value fair play. That is quite a compliment as those are all traits that will lead to true victories throughout the course of life."
Implemented in August 2005, the team honors are the most recent addition to an awards program that recognizes and celebrates sportsmanship within the Conference. In 1998, the league established the Steve Hamilton Sportsmanship Award, presented annually to a male or female student-athlete of junior or senior status who best exemplifies the characteristics of the late Morehead State student-athlete, coach and administrator. Five years later, the Conference added the OVC Sportsmanship Award, presented annually to the member institution selected by its peers to have best exhibited the standards of sportsmanship and ethical behavior as outlined by the OVC and NCAA.
In 1995, the Ohio Valley Conference implemented a first-of-its-kind "Sportsmanship Statement," a policy promoting principles of fair play, ethical conduct and respect for one's opponent. The statement answered the challenge of the NCAA Presidents Commission to improve sportsmanship in collegiate athletics, and has become a model for others to follow across the nation.
The winner of the men's sportsmanship award was Belmont.
The OVC honor marks the second time in the 12 years the award has been given that the MSU women's team has been recognized. MSU was also honored in 2010.
"One thing that I love about our team is regardless of the outcome of our race they always are more inclined to build others up rather than tear them down," Racers' coach Jenny Swieton said. "They're truly great people that believe in themselves and they effort enough to still be able to see the greatness in others regardless of the uniform they wear. I believe that is the culture of our sport and it's very exciting that others see that as well."
The OVC Sportsmanship Award is voted on by the student-athletes and coaches of the respective sports and given to the team that has best exhibited the standards of sportsmanship and ethical behavior as outlined by the OVC and NCAA. Included in the areas for evaluation are the conduct of student-athletes, coaches, staff and administrators and fans.
"Without sportsmanship there are truly no meaningful victories," said Beth DeBauche, OVC Commissioner. "The recipients of the OVC Team Sportsmanship awards should accept this award with great pride for their fellow competitors have made it clear their teams exemplify the best in intercollegiate athletics. In receiving this prestigious honor other competitors are saying these student-athletes compete with class, respect their opponents and value fair play. That is quite a compliment as those are all traits that will lead to true victories throughout the course of life."
Implemented in August 2005, the team honors are the most recent addition to an awards program that recognizes and celebrates sportsmanship within the Conference. In 1998, the league established the Steve Hamilton Sportsmanship Award, presented annually to a male or female student-athlete of junior or senior status who best exemplifies the characteristics of the late Morehead State student-athlete, coach and administrator. Five years later, the Conference added the OVC Sportsmanship Award, presented annually to the member institution selected by its peers to have best exhibited the standards of sportsmanship and ethical behavior as outlined by the OVC and NCAA.
In 1995, the Ohio Valley Conference implemented a first-of-its-kind "Sportsmanship Statement," a policy promoting principles of fair play, ethical conduct and respect for one's opponent. The statement answered the challenge of the NCAA Presidents Commission to improve sportsmanship in collegiate athletics, and has become a model for others to follow across the nation.
The winner of the men's sportsmanship award was Belmont.
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