What honor ranks up there with a state high-school athletic championship? Paul Janensch tells us in this Treasure Coast Essay.
Earlier this year, the Sebastian River High School girls basketball team won Florida’s Class 7A championship. And the Vero Beach High School girls lacrosse team won yet another state championship. Now let’s congratulate three Treasure Coast high schools for something just as important – the Florida State High School Athletic Association’s State Farm/Fred E. Rozelle Sportsmanship Awards. They are St. Lucie West Centennial High School in Class 8A, Sebastian River High School in Class 7A and Lincoln Park Academy in Class 4A. The award is presented to one school in each classification for sportsmanship shown by its players, coaches and spectators. A committee looks at school and community programs to support sportsmanship and ejections, if any, of athletes or others for unsportsmanlike conduct. Centennial received the award for the third time and is the first Florida high school to do so. Sebastian River and Lincoln Park won the award for the first time. Centennial Athletic Director John Messina said: “Our parents are well behaved. But the credit goes to our student athletes.” And, I will add, to their coaches, as well. For 88.9 FM, this is Paul Janensch.
