INDIANAPOLIS---The NCAA Committee on Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct has selected its 2011 Sportsmanship Award honorees.    

This year’s honorees are:

Bob Frederick Award

• Chuck Mitrano, Empire 8 Conference, commissioner

National Student-Athlete Sportsmanship Award

• Courtney Berger, Nova Southeastern University, rowing
• Louis Day, University of South Carolina, track & field

Divisional Student-Athlete Sportsmanship Award

• Tony Evans, College of St. Scholastica, track & field
• Meredith Hall, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, cross country

The NCAA Sportsmanship Awards honor student-athletes and a coach, administrator or athletics staff member who, through their actions in the competitive arena of intercollegiate athletics, have demonstrated one or more of the ideals of sportsmanship, including fairness, civility, honesty, unselfishness, respect and responsibility.  Annual selections are made by the NCAA Committee on Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct for the Bob Frederick Award, the National Student-Athlete Sportsmanship Award and the Divisional Student-Athlete Sportsmanship Award.

2011 Bob Frederick Award

Chuck Mitrano

Mitrano has been an influential leader in the areas of sportsmanship, ethics and NCAA leadership as commissioner of the Empire 8 Athletic Conference. He moderated a Hazing Summit at the NCAA Convention in 2007 and continues to serve as the director of collegiate partnerships for National Sportsmanship Day.   Mitrano was named one of the “100 Most Influential Sports Educators in America” by the Institute of International Sport in November 2007, and  the Empire 8 was also the first athletics conference in any division or at any  level to be named an “All-American Sportsmanship Conference” by the Institute.

The Bob Frederick Award was first presented in 2009 to posthumously honor former Kansas athletic director, Bob Frederick, for his commitment to sportsmanship and ethical conduct and for how he led by example and promoted positive fan involvement in and out of competition.   Like Frederick, Mitrano was also honored for his sincere passion for student-athletes and colleagues.
 

National Student-Athlete Sportsmanship Award

Courtney Berger

Berger was a coxswain of an eight person, 60-foot boat during the SIRA Regatta when she noticed a rival Rollins College competitor slumped over and having difficulty breathing in her boat.   Berger and her team immediately maneuvered their boat to assist the stricken rower.  When attempts to notify officials failed, Berger climbed into the boat and held the athlete upright until she regained control of her breathing and the crews were able to flag an official.  Berger’s sportsmanship, along with the encouragement from her team, was a display of valor that will never be forgotten.

Louis Day

At this year’s Indoor Southeastern Conference Track & Field Championship, Day proved that sportsmanship starts with individual acts of integrity.  During one of his throw attempts the officials misread Day’s mark and gave two extra meters to his throw.  Day knew that the mark was inaccurate and he informed his coach.  The coach reported the error to the officials, who agreed with the mistake and removed the extra distance from Day’s throw.  Day and his coach, Mike Sergent, had the integrity to inform the officials, thus taking a risk that it would disqualify Day from competing in the finals of the championship.  Day showed that his respect for the sport was as important as his ability to win a championship.  Although Day did not win the championship, his sportsmanship was an example of champion behavior.