LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. -- In an announcement made today from the league office, 14 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) winter and spring programs were recognized as a 2021-22 Sportsmanship Team recipient for their respective sport.
The SCAC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee instituted the award prior to the 2016-17 academic year in an effort to honor the team that best portrays good sportsmanship and fair play from the players and coaches during the season. The awards are currently presented in all 18 conference-sponsored sports, including 13 winter and spring sports: baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's golf, women's lacrosse, softball, men's and women's swimming and diving, men's and women's tennis and men's and women's track and field. Earlier this year, five programs were honored during the fall season.
University of St. Thomas led the way this past winter and spring with four programs earning recognition: women’s golf, softball and men’s and women’s tennis. It marked the first time for each program to earn SCAC SAAC Sportsmanship Team honors. The Celts men’s cross-country team earned the first-ever honor for St. Thomas this fall.
Colorado College earned SAAC team sportsmanship recognition for three of its winter and spring programs, including men’s basketball, which picked up its fourth-straight honor in the six-year history of the award, and the women’s basketball program collected its fourth overall honor (2016-17, 2017-18 & 2019-20). The Tigers previously swept the basketball honors during the 2019-20 season. The CC women’s lacrosse program also earned recognition for the second time, previously being honored in 2019.
Centenary College collected its second-straight accolade in men’s golf, while the women’s swimming and diving program secured that program’s first-ever accolade.
Austin College, University of Dallas, Southwestern University, Texas Lutheran University and Trinity University each had one winter or spring program recognized to round out this year's honorees.
The ‘Roos men’s swimming and diving program was recognized for the first time in program history. In baseball, the Crusaders took home their second-straight award, while the Pirates picked up their first honor in women’s lacrosse. The TLU Bulldogs were honored in men’s track and field for the first time in program history and in women’s track and field, the Tigers of Trinity were first-time honorees.
Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference 2021-22 Winter & Spring Team Sportsmanship Awards:
Baseball: University of Dallas
Men's Basketball: Colorado College
Women's Basketball: Colorado College
Men's Golf: Centenary College
Women's Golf: University of St. Thomas
Women's Lacrosse: Colorado College/Southwestern University
Softball: University of St. Thomas
Men's Swimming & Diving: Austin College
Women's Swimming & Diving: Centenary College
Men's Tennis: University of St. Thomas
Women's Tennis: University of St. Thomas
Men's Track & Field: Texas Lutheran University
Women's Track & Field: Trinity University
The awards were voted on by each member institution's SAAC, with each individual group ranking the top three teams in each sport. The first-place selections were awarded five points, second place earned three points and third place earned one point. Points were then totaled to select the conference's overall winner.
