Being A Good Sport Gets Noticed

Many years ago I was contacted by what was then the Ocean County Athletic Directors Association about a new program in which they would honor a senior male and female from each high school. I was asked to serve as Master of Ceremonies for what was the first Sportsmanship Awards program which featured a breakfast for the honorees and their families. At some point a similar program was launched by the Monmouth County schools and eventually they merged into one large program for all 48 schools.

The Shore Conference of High Schools Sportsmanship Awards program has been one of my favorites and every May I have had the honor to MC the event which salutes 94 student-athletes who best represent the ideals of sportsmanship in their respective schools.

Our Shore Sports Network has worked closely to put together a special journal which features the recipients which through 2019 was distributed as part of an awards breakfast at the RWJBarnabas Health Arena. As many as 400 people would gather for this event which brought the sportsmen (and women) together along with their families, coaches, athletic directors and others.

Then came the pandemic and in both 2020 and 2021 there was no live event although we did a special print program which was distributed to all the schools and other places.

Well after a two-year hiatus we are back and this Sunday the honorees and their families will gather again at the arena on the campus of Toms River High School North. We are also thrilled to have the support of ProCare Rehabilitation (www.procarerehabilitation.com) who as our sponsor of the event will provide four $500 scholarships through a random drawing of all the sportsmanship winners.

Special thanks to the athletic directors for their work and efforts to make good sportsmanship something to aim for and highlight.

Looking forward to Sunday!