MBCNews - Sportsmanship Takes Center Court

Sportsmanship Takes Center Court

By Dawn Medley

2009-05-11
Revised: 2009-09-25

Update: Mary Baldwin College athletics was presented a trophy recognizing its USA South Athletic Conference Sportsmanship Award September 23, during a home volleyball game where the Fighting Squirrels defeated conference rival Shenandoah University. Read more about the sportsmanship award, which was announced in May 2009, and athletes' reactions below.

Long after win-loss records are forgotten, Mary Baldwin College athletes will remember a key award received during their 2008-09 seasons: the Sportsmanship Award from USA South Athletic Conference. Cheering their teammates on even when the scoreboard wasn’t in their favor. Calling on their skills and willpower to give their best effort. A sincere handshake and a respectful “good-job” at the close of the contest. That is what sticks with them.
Mary Baldwin won the Sportsmanship Award in three individual sports — volleyball, women’s soccer, and softball — to earn the conference’s highest sportsmanship honor. USA South is serious about sportsmanship, noting on its Web site that it is “vital that good sportsmanship be demonstrated in the arena of competition.”
“More than teaching athletes how to win, we strive to teach them about life, how to make good decisions and do the right things to move toward a winning record,” said Paul Yee, head volleyball coach, assistant tennis coach, and sports information director at MBC. As an athlete in high school and college, Yee said the teams on which he played didn’t always win, but they kept up the pursuit to become better. “Sportsmanship begins when your opponents arrive or you get to their site, and it continues even after that final handshake.”
Sharon Spalding, MBC athletic director and cross country coach, said sportsmanship is an integral — not optional — part of each Mary Baldwin coaches’ leadership on the field and off. The coaching staff consistently reminds players that they represent the college during their contests, and “they take that to heart,” she said.
“Good sportsmanship is common courtesy,” said junior softball player Carolyn Majchszak of Jefferson, Maryland. As a transfer from another Virginia college in a different athletic conference, Majchszak has observed a more sportsmanlike spirit among USA South competitors. “You remember other teams’ actions toward you — someone handing you a bat when it’s dropped or complimenting you after a good play,” she said.

Just before the award was announced, MBC learned that it was accepted as a full-fledged member in USA South Athletic Conference. Mary Baldwin applied for membership in USA South in 2005 and started its two-year provisional membership in 2007–08, during which time the college strengthened its programs by hiring full-time coaches (who also serve as administrative staff) and increased recruiting efforts. Earning full membership in the conference for 2009–10 means MBC can enjoy its status in the conference among 10 other competitive National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III colleges and universities.
The Sportsmanship Award is based on votes of team members in each USA South sport, not administrators or coaches. The recognition from her peers at other schools makes the award even sweeter for volleyball player Kara Jenkins ’11. “Sportsmanship comes naturally for me. Many of our games were close this year, and I really respected our opponents, whether we had a loss of a few points or a win by a small margin,” said Jenkins, who served this year as MBC chair of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee, which works to promote sportsmanship, among other initiatives, conference wide.
Recognition as the conference’s most congenial member. Not a bad way for Mary Baldwin College to enter its first year of full membership in USA South.