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USM, Fox Cities earn WIAA Sportsmanship awards

By Michael Trzinski, WiPH Staff & Submitted, 04/22/20, 7:15PM CDT

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Both teams are first-time winners for hockey

STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association, in cooperation with Rural Mutual Insurance, has chosen the recipients of the team sportsmanship awards for the 2020 winter State Tournaments.

The winners of the prestigious sportsmanship recognition are University School of Milwaukee in boys hockey, the Xavier Co-op in girls hockey, Prairie du Chien in team wrestling, and Hartford Union in gymnastics. Boys and girls basketball did not receive an award due to the cancellation of those tournaments because of the decision to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

It’s the first time since 2017 the sportsmanship award has been presented in boys hockey, and it’s the first time University School has earned the recognition in boys hockey. The Wildcats’ have now won the award five times across all sports. They won the award with the girls hockey co-op in 2013, boys tennis in 2018, and girls tennis in 2006 and 2014. University School modeled sportsmanship both on and off the ice at the State Tournament. After jumping out to a 2-0 lead in their semifinal game, they fell 5-3 to top-seeded Notre Dame. Northland Pines and Rice Lake received honorable mention.

The Xavier Co-op consisting of 16 schools, including Appleton East, Appleton North, Appleton West, Fox Valley Lutheran, Freedom, Hortonville, Kaukauna, Kimberly, Little Chute, Menasha, Neenah, New London, St. Mary Catholic, Two Rivers, Wrightstown and Xavier, won the award in girls hockey after skating to its second straight State championship. The Stars defeated Hudson 4-2 in the semifinals, and downed the top-seeded Middleton Co-op 5-3 to capture the crown. It’s the first time Xavier has won the sportsmanship award in any sport, whether as a stand-alone program or the lead school in a co-op. The Beloit Memorial Co-op, Hudson and the Middleton Co-op received honorable mention.