聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 The Gordon F. Kells High School Girls Volleyball Team not only earned fourth place at the SHSAA 3A competition they hosted in November, but they were recently awarded with the SHSAA Sportsmanship Award sponsored by Sask Milk Marketing Board on Wednesday, Jan. 17.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭hey have shown skills on the volleyball court and have seen successes at games, tournaments, and playoffs during the season,鈥� SHSAA Assistant Executive Director Dave Sandomirsky explained at a school assembly. 鈥淭oday they are being recognized for their display of sportsmanship.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚n competition there鈥檚 a winner and a loser. There are awards to celebrate the winners, but how do you react when you lose? How do you react when you win? How do you carry yourself as a team while in competition? We realized years back that aspect of the sport required attention.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Sandomirksy explained that the blue Sportsmanship banner was first presented in 1996 and is a highly respected honour as it showcases the reflection of the school, the student body, and the community that receives the honour.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 At each SHSAA championship the conduct of the players, coaches, and fans is taken into account. They look at how the team interacts with the host, other teams, officials, etc鈥� and while being in a highly competitive situation there remained a focus on respect.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The blue banner is the second one ever to be earned at Gordon F. Kells, with the first one being earned in 2005.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The accolade was something that both Amy Jackson and Trent Johnson were extremely happy to have seen their team receive.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚鈥檓 just so proud of them,鈥� Jackson stated.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Johnson added, 鈥淲e appreciate all of the support from the staff, the students, and the community over the season and are very proud of the girls鈥� accomplishments.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The team included Alexis Thompson, Hailey Barta, Jorja Bendtsen, Taylor Sargent, Gracie Schutz, Kailyn Wilson, Hope Robertson, Katie Wilson, Maddison Riddell, Kate Reiss, and Tori Chapman.
