BHS athletes honored for good sportsmanship

By JORDAN DAWSON / Bigfork Eagle

The Bigfork High School activities directors added something new to this year's home games; a sportsmanship award to acknowledge those that excel in this important aspect of athletics.

After each Bigfork home game, a player from each team is selected by the referees as recipients for that game's sportsmanship award. Both winners receive certificates. The player from the Bigfork team also receives a coupon for a free large two-topping pizza from Sun Mountain Pizza. The visiting team player receives either a coupon for a family size pasta or a coupon for a large one-topping pizza from Pizza Hut of Kalispell.

"We always say that sportsmanship is important in competition, and we just wanted to put a little more meaning behind it," said BHS assistant activities director Matt Porrovecchio. "We want to recognize those students and get them in front of the crowd and hopefully the other kids see that and follow their example."

Matt Jensen, BHS activities director and vice principal, thought of starting the program last year.

"I wanted a way to recognize all of the positive contributions our athletes make," Jensen said. "We always talk about all of the other lessons that are learned through sports and I think this is a great example of one of those lessons."

Jensen contacted area businesses about donating items to the students who won the sportsmanship awards and Sun Mountain Pizza quickly volunteered to donate a pizza for every home game this year. The school wanted separate sponsors for the visiting teams so they could enjoy their reward closer to their home town, and Pizza Hut stepped up to donate coupons for those winners.

BHS recently signed up with Montana High School Association to enhance the sportsmanship program. The players will now also receive medals from MHSA, and the association is giving the school a sportsmanship banner.

Boys Soccer

Derek Minemyer, Sept. 5 vs. Laurel

Alec MacCallum, Sept. 6 vs. Billings Central

Keenan Evans, Sept. 11 vs. Whitefish

Alec MacCallum, Sept. 25 vs. Polson

Matt Vlastelica, Sept. 30 vs. Columbia Falls

Zac Hansen, Oct. 9 vs. Libby

Girls Soccer

Miranda Miller, Sept. 5 vs. Laurel

Ariana Shults, Sept. 6 vs. Billings Central

Kaitlyn Shults, Sept. 11 vs. Whitefish

Becca Denning, Sept. 16 vs. Stevensville

Quinci Paine, Sept. 25 vs. Polson

McKinze Shults, Sept. 30 vs. Columbia Falls

Becca Denning, Oct. 9 vs. Libby

Football

Phillip Sandry, Sept.19 vs. Browning

Chris Neu, Oct. 3 vs. Polson

Cheyne Valentine, Oct. 10 vs. Ronan

Kenny Patrick, Oct. 24 vs. Libby

Volleyball

Roxy Thurman, Sept. 18 vs. Libby

Claire Wilken, Oct. 11 vs. Whitefish

Claire Wilken,Oct. 31 vs. Columbia Falls

Claire Wilken, Nov. 1 vs. Ronan

Rachael Luckow, Nov. 6 vs Polson

Emily Hardman, Nov. 8 vs Hamilton