Northern Sun Honors U-Mary with 2010 Sportsmanship Award
Marauders athletic director Roger Thomas (right) receives the 2010 Northern Sun Sportsmanship Award from NSIC commissioner Butch Raymond.
U-Mary athletic director Roger Thomas and assistant athletic directors Mike Offerdahl (left) and Kevin Forde (right) bring home the 2010 Northern Sun Sportsmanship Award.
St. Cloud, MN - The University of Mary received the 2010 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Sportsmanship Award in recognition of the positive conduct exhibited throughout last season by everyone associated with Marauders athletics, from student-athletes to fans in the stands.
A member of the Northern Sun since 2006, this is the first time U-Mary has captured the third annual Sportsmanship Award, presented at the NSIC Hall of Fame banquet on Tuesday, July 14.
"Last summer we identified the Sportsmanship Award and improving our standing in the Northern Sun All-Sports rankings as our top two goals for the year and we managed to achieve both," said Marauders athletic director Roger Thomas. "The NCAA also focused on its desire for schools to provide a game environment that is appropriate and welcoming for fans of all ages, and I'm proud to say the University of Mary met the challenge. This Sportsmanship Award demonstrates that not only can our fans come out and have a great time at games and be loud and crazy, but we can also be respectful of our opponents, the game and the people around us.
"Thanks and congratulations are in order for our coaches, fans, student-athletes, cheer team, pep band, the game management team, parents, Varsity Club and Marauders Maniac members, students and all other members of the U-Mary campus, and everyone else who attends our games and provides support for Marauders athletics in creating a great atmosphere at our events. This Sportsmanship Award belongs to all of us and we again thank you for your support and conduct."
The NSIC Sportsmanship Award is voted on by the conference head coaches, student athlete advisory committee (SAAC) members and game officials based on the sportsmanship of student-athletes, fans, coaches and the game day management at each opposing Northern Sun member. Sportsmanship is defined as "a set of behaviors to be exhibited by student athletes, coaches, officials, administrators and fans in athletic competition. These behaviors are based on values including respect, civility, fairness, honesty and responsibility."
The Marauders also jumped two slots in the conference all-sports rankings this season. U-Mary improved to eighth place in the Northern Sun standings after finishing tenth in 2008-09, garnering 75.5 points compared to 66.5 points last season. U-Mary's increase this past year came despite sponsoring 14 of the conference's 17 sports after competing in 16 NSIC championship sports a year ago.
U-Mary's lone conference championship was captured by the women's outdoor track and field team, their third in four seasons. Improving in the standings for the Marauders were men's basketball, women's outdoor track and field, men's outdoor track and field, softball, women's indoor track and field, baseball and both the men's and women's cross country teams while football and wrestling maintained their positions of a year ago.
