Sheridan High School girls soccer team earns Gold Ethics & Sportsmanship Award

Submitted by Sheridan Community Schools

The Sheridan High School girls soccer team has achieved a prestigious honor by earning a Gold Ethics and Sportsmanship Award from the United Soccer Coaches for the 2024 fall season.

This recognition places them among an elite group of only 14 teams nationwide – and just three schools in Indiana – to achieve this distinction.

The Gold Award is part of the United Soccer Coaches’ High School Team Ethics and Sportsmanship program, which celebrates fair play, sporting behavior, and adherence to the laws of the game. Teams are graded based on their accumulation of yellow and red cards during the season. To qualify for the Gold level, teams must have a card percentage ranging from just 1 to 10 percent.

Head Coach Brian Prange credited the team’s discipline and sportsmanship as key contributors to this success.

“Our players demonstrated outstanding character on and off the field this season,” Prange said. “They played hard but always within the spirit of the game. This award is a testament to their respect for their teammates, opponents, and the game itself.”

Sheridan Athletic Director Beth DeVinney also praised the team’s achievement, highlighting the importance of sportsmanship in high school athletics.

“This recognition speaks volumes about the culture of our soccer program and the values we instill in our student-athletes,” DeVinney said. “We are incredibly proud of Coach Prange and the girls for representing Sheridan with such integrity and class.”

The award comes as part of a broader program by United Soccer Coaches to promote fair play. Across the country, 53 boys and girls teams were recognized at various levels: Platinum for no cards during the season, Gold for a 1 to 10 percent card ratio, Silver for 11 to 30 percent, and Bronze for 31 to 50 percent.

This honor highlights Sheridan High School as a leader in ethics and fair play in Indiana soccer. The Blackhawks’ recognition underscores their commitment to excellence both on and off the field and sets a high standard for future teams to follow.