HIGH POINT, N.C. – The University of Mount Olive Women's Outdoor Track and Field team was named a recipient of a Spring Individual Messick Sportsmanship Award as announced by the conference office following the conclusion of the spring sports championships. Teams that are recognized, have demonstrated the best sportsmanship in their respective sport, as voted upon by member coaches and student-athletes. Joining Mount Olive as spring recipients are Belmont Abbey College, King University, Lees-McRae College, Limestone College, North Greenville University, and Southern Wesleyan University.
The women's track and field team won the 2017-18 Conference Carolinas Outdoor Track & Field Championship back in April. The Championship was the fifth consecutive in program history for the Trojans.
The sportsmanship awards are presented annually to the member institution judged to have exhibited the highest degree of sportsmanship and respect among its players, coaches, and fans during their regular playing season. The winning institution is recognized for its overall commitment to providing a quality playing environment for home and visiting fans, players, and staff members.
The Conference Carolinas Messick Sportsmanship Awards are determined by the following. A student-athlete and coach from each school vote separately upon the sportsmanship of all conference competitors. Each institution then submits those votes to the conference office, where averages are calculated to decide the winner for each conference-sponsored sport. The rankings of each school's conference-sponsored sports are then used to determine the institution which has displayed the best sportsmanship across all sports throughout the year, and that institution is named the winner of the Messick Sportsmanship Award.
The individual team sportsmanship awards are now in their eighth year.
FULL CONFERENCE CAROLINAS RELEASE
Spring Team Messick Sportsmanship Award recipients for 2018:
Women's Outdoor Track & Field - University of Mount Olive
Men's Outdoor Track & Field - Southern Wesleyan University
Women's Tennis - King University
Men's Tennis - North Greenville University
Softball - King University
Baseball - Southern Wesleyan University
Women's Golf - Belmont Abbey College
Men's Golf - Southern Wesleyan University
Women's Lacrosse - Limestone College
Men's Lacrosse - Lees-McRae College
Men's Volleyball - Belmont Abbey College