Stoughton High Athletics Tops in Sportsmanship Again

The Stoughton High Athletics Department was honored with the Hockomock League Sportsmanship Award for the 2012-2013 school year, SHS Athletic Director Ryan Donahue said. 

It's the fourth time in the last five years Stoughton has received this award ('08-'09, '09-'10, '10-'11, and '12-'13).

"[Sportsmanship] is something we take very seriously," Donahue said at a recent School Committee meeting where he shared the good news.

For a school that seems to be regularly recognized for playing the game right and winning and losing with class, 2012-2013 was another banner year for sportsmanship at Stoughton High.

The boys' cross country, girls' cross country, girls' soccer, boys' hockey, boys' indoor track, girls' indoor track, boys' tennis and girls' outdoor track teams all won Hockomock League team sportsmanship awards in their respective sports. 

Stoughton High football coach Greg Burke was named the 2012 Coach of the Year by the Association of Independent Football Officials. His team went 9-2, one of the best seasons in SHS football history, but the Association noted how Burke and his staff always treat game officials with "the utmost respect and professionalism."

And, for the second straight season the boys' hockey team got to go to the Boston Garden to receive the James F. Mulloy Team Sportsmanship Award. Senior hockey player Imani Pina also received the Boston Bruins Sportsmanship Award and Hobey Baker character award.

Stoughton is one of 12 teams in the highly competitive Hockomock League.

"To be recognized as a leader in sportsmanship amongst the caliber of teams and communities in the Hockomock League is truly an honor," said Donahue, who just finished his fourth year as AD at Stoughton High. 

"Being named Hock Sportsmanship winner four of the last five years along with multiple MIAA sportsmanship honors is a testament to the students, families, coaches, teachers and administrators in the town of Stoughton."