By RICHIE HALL
Sheridan’s fight song ends with, appropriately, “go, fight, win!”
The Blackhawks know how to compete, but they do so in a sportsmanlike manner. Now everyone in the state is aware of this, as Sheridan High School is one of 23 high schools from Indiana to receive the 2019-20 IHSAA Sportsmanship Award.
“I am most proud of our Sheridan community in this achievement,” said Sheridan athletic director Beth DeVinney. She said that the IHSAA and its member schools are putting a tremendous focus on sportsmanship.
DeVinney said that receiving the Sportsmanship Award is something SHS wanted to achieve and continue to achieve on a yearly basis. She wants the Blackhawks’ student-athletes to compete with class and character, and make the school a place they love and are proud to be a part of.
In order to receive the Sportsmanship Award, a school must meet all five criteria based on the COACH model. The requirements are as follows:
C – Calculate your Sportsmanship Score
O – Offer your student-athletes a leadership role through implementation of an Athletic Council
A – Acknowledge the merits of a Servant Leadership through a Community Service Project
C – Challenge your staff, parents and student-athletes to take part in an established Educational Program
H – Hold an annual Sportsmanship/Citizenship Conference for your student-athletes
For the Sportsmanship Score, all schools begin the year with 100 points. They can gain points by having student attendance at Fall Area Principal Meetings, administrator attendance at the IIAAA Conference in March and by attending the IHSAA Student Leadership Conference in June. Each appearance earns five points.
In addition, schools can accumulate exemplary reports that are submitted by fellow schools. Each report earns one point. Meanwhile, points are subtracted for any ejections, with student-athlete and fan ejections costing five points. A coach ejection is a 10-point loss and the ejection of an administrator is 20 points.
Sheridan totaled 111 points in its Sportsmanship Score, well above the qualification for “Excellent.” Any score of 100 points or above falls into that category. DeVinney said Sheridan received 10 exemplary reports for coaches and players and two unsporting reports.
“These numbers have greatly improved and we are hoping moving forward that we achieve all exemplary reports as that is the expectation,” said DeVinney.
The Blackhawks also launched their Student Ambassador program this year, which involved 13 student-athletes. They were involved in the Lead Em Up program, which develops character leadership and service.
“This is a program that Hamilton Heights also offers and they do a fantastic job,” said DeVinney. Heights athletic director Kurt Ogden and athletic secretary Leigh Ann Moffatt helped DeVinney to launch the program.
“Their sponsors and kids are so impressive and represent them with great character and class,” said DeVinney.
As for the other parts of the criteria, DeVinney highlighted those as well.
“Our coaches have also been working extremely hard to satisfy NFHS requirements above and beyond the IHSAA requirements,” said DeVinney. “Their professional development has been great especially with this extra time we have had. Our student athletes also are asked to participate in community service projects throughout the year. We participated in the IHSAA leadership conference last summer and were slated to have our own HHC Conference Leadership Conference in April.”
It all added up to Sheridan receiving the award. DeVinney said she is “very proud of our achievements and look forward to achieving this award yearly.”
The other schools receiving the Sportsmanship Award are: Clay City, Columbus North, Edinburgh, Fremont, Goshen, Harrison, Highland, Kankakee Valley, Logansport, Madison, Mishawaka, Mooresville, Morristown, North Vermillion, Oak Hill, Pendleton Heights, Pioneer, River Forest, Rock Creek Academy, South Bend Riley, Western Boone and Winamac.
Sheridan girls basketball coach Jaidlin Delph talks to her team during a timeout at one of the Blackhawks’ games. (Kirk Green/File photo)