Each of the nominees have exemplified the good sportsmanship that characterizes the highest level of respect, caring, fairness, civility, honesty, integrity and responsibility during competition.

Mackiewicz and DiCarlo were chosen from among seven finalists representing Divisions I, II and III.

Mackiewicz, a sophomore Division I student-athlete, clinched a starting spot in the last regular- season competition and was one of four Brown fencing student-athletes to qualify for the NCAA regional tournament. Only three student-athletes were permitted to attend and compete at the event, however, and Mackiewicz offered her spot to a fellow senior teammate, Charlotte Rose.

“Her own reason was that Charlotte was more dedicated to the team and that Charlotte was a senior and this was her last shot to finally make it to the NCAA Championship,” Coach Atilio Tass said.

According to her teammates, Mackiewicz always maintains a positive attitude and focuses on how to improve. “I don’t know how often something like what [Mackiewicz] did happens, but I definitely think her selfless sacrificing of her spot really does speak for itself,” said teammate Rose. “This is the epiphany of putting the team and teammates before oneself, which I believe to be the essence of a great athlete.”

DiCarlo, a senior Division II student-athlete, decided to assist his team and filled in for an injured wrestler in a higher weight class than he normally competed. DiCarlo was wrestling well against his larger opponent when suddenly the opponent’s vision became blurry and was rendered helpless. With DiCarlo needing only one takedown to secure victory for himself and his team, he refused to execute offensive moves on his opponent. He was more concerned for his opponent’s safety than he was with winning at any cost.

“As time expired, Anthony’s teammates realized the sportsmanship that he exhibited,” said Nancy Simpson, director of athletics. “Even though they were disappointed with not winning the overall dual meet, they began to congratulate Anthony for doing the right thing and told him how proud they were of him. The opposing wrestler, team and coach all expressed their respect and admiration toward Anthony … for the sportsmanship he exhibited that day.”

Criteria for the NCAA’s Sportsmanship Award include demonstrating the values of respect and integrity through a specific action, ideally directed toward an opponent while participating in intercollegiate athletics.

The other divisional finalists were University of Oklahoma basketball student-athlete Blake Griffin; University of Southern Mississippi track and field student-athlete Aaron Ammons; Clarion University of Pennsylvania swimming student-athlete Jamie Maloney; Carthage College swimming student-athlete Isaac Rothenbaum; and the Fitchburg State College women’s lacrosse team.

• Blake Griffin, University of Oklahoma, basketball

Griffin demonstrated calmness and maturity in the face of adversity on the court. When opponents would get physical (often times resulting in ejection from the game) he would not retaliate. His level-headed approach to the game made him a role model by demonstrating respect for others, his university and the game.

• Aaron Ammons, University of Southern Mississippi, track and field

During an April 25 meet, Ammons was trying to achieve the regional qualifying mark of 16.80 meters in the shot put. He threw 17.34 meters, well over the qualifying mark, but suspected the shot may not have been of legal weight. He weighed the shot, found that it was not the correct weight, and told his head coach he wanted to forfeit the throw. His eventual throw was not a regional qualifier, but three weeks later at the Conference USA Championship, he won the shot put event, thus earning him an automatic bid to the regional championship.

• Jamie Maloney, Clarion University of Pennsylvania, swimming

At the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship meet, Maloney noticed as she prepared to swim her individual race, a swimmer on an opposing team was panicking after her goggles broke one heat before her race. Maloney did not hesitate to loan her own goggles to the swimmer, even though the opposing team was one of Clarion’s biggest rivals. Maloney was very humble about the situation saying, “It was no big deal. I hope someone would do the same for me.” This is just one of many examples of how Maloney follows the ideals of sportsmanship.

• Isaac Rothenbaum, Carthage College, swimming

Rothenbaum and his teammates were at the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin conference swim meet at Wheaton College when the meet had ended and the team was packing up to go home. A Wheaton swimmer was time trialing in the 100-meter breast stroke to try to qualify for nationals. The Wheaton swimmer was not competing against anyone but himself, but Rothenbaum encouraged his teammates to cheer the Wheaton swimmer on (he reached the qualifying time and went on to compete in nationals). Rothenbaum put his own wants and needs behind him to cheer on a competitor, which is typical of this respectful, charismatic student-athlete.

• Fitchburg State College, women’s lacrosse team

The team consistently demonstrated good sportsmanship throughout the course of the 2009 season. As a team, it adheres to the principles of fair play as evidenced by two distinct events that occurred during the season. Before a home game against the University of Southern Maine, the USM’s goalie stick was found to be over regulation length. Rather than force the keeper to find another stick, the team agreed to a delay while members of the Fitchburg staff provided the necessary tools to the USM student-athlete to cut her stick to regulation length. Fitchburg later lost the game, 17-13. When Fitchburg faced off against Thomas College later in the season the Thomas keeper did not have a goalie stick. Rather than force the goalie to use a regular stick, which would have put her at a disadvantage, the Fitchburg team agreed to let the goalie use one of its back-up sticks. Fitchburg went on to win 16-2. Both examples demonstrate the team’s commitment to fairness and a desire to preserve the integrity of the game.

Members of the NCAA Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct Committee are: John Blanchard, senior associate athletic director, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (chair); Thomas M. Brennan, athletic director, LaSalle University; Marie Godwin, student-athlete, Macalester College; Danielle Gray, student-athlete, Jacksonville University; LaToya Greene, senior woman administrator and assistant director of athletics, Mount Olive College; Fredina M. Ingold, athletic director, Penn State University, Altoona; Christopher Odom, student-athlete, Angelo State University; Derrick Ramsey, athletic director, Coppin State University; Julie Ruppert,commissioner, Northeast-10 Conference; Lisa Sardinia, faculty athletics representative and biology professor, Pacific University (Oregon); and Debbie Wilson, associate athletic director, academic services/sports psychology, George Mason University.