FOA Sportsmanship Awards
As a means of encouraging sportsmanship in the area schools that the
Fruitbelt Officials Association serves, we bestow five
awards over the course of the school year.
 |
| Fruitbelt President Bruce Arter (center) presents the 2010
Student-Athlete Sportsmanship Award to Marc Briney
of Michigan Lutheran High School (left) and the
Walt Lange Sportsmanship Award to Michigan Lutheran Athletic
Director John Eggert (right). |
Student-Athlete Sportsmanship Awards
Two of these awards are given to student-athletes. Both a male and female
senior athlete are selected for each school year.
Nominations come from athletic directors and coaches from our area schools
(Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties). Our sportsmanship committee narrows
the nominations to a list of finalists,
and winners are voted on by the membership at our spring general meeting. Winners receive a plaque
commemorating the achievement and all nominated athletes receive a
certificate.
2009-10 Student-Athlete Sportsmanship Awards
Marc Briney, a senior at Michigan Lutheran High
School, was the male recipient of our 2009-10 sportsmanship
award. Marc competed in soccer, basketball and baseball during his years at
Michigan Lutheran. Marga Galens, a senior at
Watervliet Grace Christian High School, was this year's female
recipient. Marga played basketball and volleyball at Watervliet Grace. Congratulations to
these two seniors for their outstanding display of sportsmanship!
Walt Lange Sportsmanship Award
The Walt Lange Sportsmanship Award is bestowed once annually to both a
high school and middle school for superior sportsmanship exhibited by
athletes, coaches and fans. As with our other sportsmanship awards, all
schools in Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties are considered. This award is named in honor of longtime FOA
member Walt Lange, and nominations come from the general membership and are
voted on from the membership as well.
2009-10 Walt Lange Awards
Michigan Lutheran High School was honored with the
2009-10 Walt Lange Sportsmanship Award for the high school level.
Lakeshore Middle School was this year's middle school winner. Congratulations to all the
student-athletes, coaches and supporters from these two schools, whose consistent display of
sportsmanship earned them this award.
Herb Quade Coaches Award
The Herb Quade Coaches Award is given once annually to an area coach who
exemplifies sportsmanship by example to his/her student athletes. This award
is named in honor of longtime FOA member, coach and athletic director Herb
Quade. A committee of FOA members chooses seven candidates from sports the
association supports (boys' basketball, girls' basketball, baseball,
softball, football, volleyball and wrestling). One of these is chosen by a
vote of the membership for "Coach of the Year." Each nominated coach receive
a certificate and the winning candidate receives a plaque to commemorate the
achievement.
2008-09 Quade Award Winner
John Eggert of Michigan Lutheran High School
was named the 2008-09 winner of the Herb Quade award. John is the athletic
director and boys' basketball coach at Michigan Lutheran. We congratulate
him for his valuable contributions to high school athletics!