On Wednesday in Huntsville, the Alabama High School Athletic Association honored 132 schools at its annual Sportsmanship Luncheon for having no fines or ejections in the 2009-10 school year. Three of those schools honored were Cedar Bluff, Spring Garden, and Sand Rock.
The 132 total schools honored Wednesday exceeded last year’s 104, and it was 40 more than the schools honored in 2008, the first year of AHSAA’s STAR Sportsmanship initiative.
“We are very proud of the way our member schools have embraced our commitment to sportsmanship and our commitment to the STAR Sportsmanship program administered for our schools,” AHSAA Executive Director Steve Savarese said.
“We are very committed to educational-based athletics for our member schools and this increase of 47 percent from 2007 to now is a testimony to the commitment of our member schools.”
Of the schools recognized Wednesday, one from each of the AHSAA’s eight athletic districts was selected by al.com to receive $1,000 scholarships for its general athletics fund. It marked the third year of the grants.
During that span more than 175,000 students, coaches, administrators, officials and parents have completed the STAR Sportsmanship program.
Robert Sims and Amanda Golden of al.com were on hand to present checks to the eight schools selected. Those schools were W.S. Neal, Kinston, Calhoun, Edward Bell, Calera, Lineville, Muscle Shoals, and Athens Bible.
Also, 15 schools were recognized by Savarese for having no fines or ejections for the last three years. Those schools were Alabama School for the Blind, Athens Bible, Boaz, Calhoun, Covenant Christian, Edward Bell, Gulf Shores, A.L. Johnson, Kinston, Linden, Lineville, W.S. Neal, Vina, Booker T. Washington Magnet School of Montgomery, and Westminster School of Oak Mountain.
Another 43 schools of this group have been fine and ejection free two of the last three years and at least four districts had 20 or more schools to reach this goal. Class 1A had the most schools (40) with no fines or ejections. Class 2A was next with 27.
The Marengo County School System had all four of its schools complete the year fine and ejection free (John Essex, A.L. Johnson, Marengo and Sweet Water). Linden, a city school in Marengo County, was also fine free.
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Piedmont wrestling coach Harley Lamey was among 11 prep coaches honored Thursday for being named the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) 2009 State Coaches of the Year.
Lamey led Piedmont to its first ever state championship in 2009, when the Bulldogs captured the Class 1A-4A state title in 2009 at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville.
Other honorees in addition to Lamey were Hartselle’s William Booth (Baseball); Butler’s Jack Doss (Boys Basketball); UMS-Wright’s Terry Curtis (Football); John Carroll’s David DiPiazza (Boys Soccer); UMS-Wright’s Rick Cleveland (Boys Tennis); T.R. Miller’s Eddie Brundidge (Boys Track and Field); Spain Park’s Kelly Holland (Girls Golf); Randolph’s Marvin Chou (Girls Soccer); Sparkman’s Roger Palmer (Softball); and Lexington’s Melissa Hammond (Volleyball).
Greg Hicks of the Huntsville City Schools, was named AHSADCA State Athletic Director of the Year and Lymos McDonald of R.A. Hubbard received the Past President’s Award. McDonald is now at Colbert County High School.
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The Dr. Lawrence Lemak Award was presented to Collinsville and nine other AHSAA member schools in Huntsville on Thursday as part of All-Star Week festivities. Each school received $2,500 grants.
The Lemak Award has been presented annually since 2008. A total of $75,000 is distributed to schools who applied for the need-based grants.
Joining Collinsville as recipients of the grants was Ariton, Chilton County, Fayetteville, Florala, Jemison, Keith, Linden, G.W. Long, and Slocomb.
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