WIAA Award of Excellence recognizes sportsmanship

By Ginna Young

Lake Holcombe’s athletic program is known throughout the area for their sportsmanship, but now is also known throughout the state. For the first time in school history, Lake Holcombe is the recipient of the 2020-21 WIAAAward of Excellence.

“It doesn’t mean that you’re perfect, but it means that you’re improving, you’re working to do the right thing, despite mistakes you may make along the way,” said Lake Holcombe athletic director Todd Senoraske. “That’s what it’s all about – progress.”

Along with 32 other schools who met criteria, the Lake Holcombe Chieftain sports teams were selected for the award, based on ethics, integrity, leadership and character. While coaches, spectators and other teams are aware of the sportsmanship exhibited throughout a season, there’s another component to award eligibility.

An athletic director must maintain and update all information in the WIAA School Directory annually, as well as conducting regularly occurring meetings. Three or more athletic teams must also give back to their school, or community, through volunteerism.

Those, and a multitude of other requirements, are what

See WIAA AWARD OF EXCELLENCE / Page 3 led Lake Holcombe to its award. Senoraske says an athletic director can do just a little bit extra to meet the criteria and that he is sure other schools can easily fulfill the eligibility requirements.

Senoraske said it’s important, when seeing the other schools listed for the award, to understand that Lake Holcombe is right next to the big Division 1 schools.

“We can do that sort of stuff right here in Lake Holcombe,” he said. “You don’t have to have the fanciest stuff, it comes from within. I think that’s important to realize and remember, too, anyone can do it.”

With teamwork a huge factor, Senorake says he wants the sportsmanship to become a habit that grows at the school with all the teams. He said high school sports come and go, but the habit of teamwork and sportsmanship will last forever.

“There are a lot of goals to strive for in it and a lot of things that point an athletic program in the right direction,” said Senoraske. “We want our kids and coaches to be extremely competitive… but with that, great sportsmanship. The lessons that they learn along the way are really going to carry them as time goes on.”