It’s only fitting for us to begin the new year, many of us college football fanatics, with this great story from Wisconsin Soccer Central that helps us leave those yellow flag-littered bowl game memories behind. Some folks balk at the old adage, “It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.” Some share versions of “win or lose” that include “I feel good about myself” (Mary Doctor), “Do it fairly” (Knute Rockne), “Always give 100 percent” (Sue Wicks) or “We have applied the best of ourselves” (Vince Lombardi). And this final version from a former NCAA student-athlete…
It is about whether you win or lose and also about how you play the game.
One might suggest this version describes Coach Scott Stein’s Menomonee Falls boys and girls soccer teams; they win and do it with award-winning sportsmanship. Both teams were awarded High School Team Ethics and Sportsmanship Awards from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, via Anderson:
The Falls girls, who finished 21-3-0 and lost to eventual WIAA Division 1 state champion Milwaukee DSHA 1-0 in the sectional semifinals last spring, were among the 51 teams in the country to win the Silver Award. The standards for that honor are no red cards and no more than five yellow cards during the season.
The Menomonee Falls boys received the Bronze Award, joining eight other teams nationwide with no red cards and between six and 10 cautions. Falls (18-4-4) advanced to the final in its first WIAA state tournament appearance before falling to Milwaukee Marquette 4-1 in last month’s final.
Menomonee Falls also earned the WIAA Sportsmanship Award for the boys state tournament, the first such honor for the school in any sport. The award is based on the conduct and sportsmanship displayed by athletes, coaches, cheer and support groups, mascots, bands and spectators in state tournament competition.
At What’s Right we celebrate success in our school systems and among leaders, teachers, staff, and students. Join us in celebrating Coach Stein and the student athletes on the boys and girls soccer teams in Menomonee Falls. They are winners on and off the field.
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Anderson, Eric. (12.30.2014). “Prep notes: Menomonee Falls teams earn NSCAA Team Ethics awards.” Available online here.
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Filed under: How to Lead…, Our Partners Tagged: Award Winning, Menomonee Falls, SDMF, Soccer, Sportsmanship, Win or Lose 
