Week Four: High School Sport Show True Sportsmanship

All umpires say before every game, "All players must be reminded of sportsmanship". As for Maryville high school, they show true sportsmanship in a much deeper meaning. In the article 15-year-old freshman in Missouri has the run of his life, Matt Ziesel, a fifteen year old with down syndrome, has been trying to chase his dreams of playing in a St. Joseph Benton football game.

"I'm ready, Coach," said Ziesel. All season he's been wishing to step foot on the football field and be involved, and this game, he got his wish.

There was 10 seconds left in the fourth quarter and Marysville high school was ahead 46-0, his coach, McCamy, called a timeout and asked the other teams coach David McEnaney if they would allow Ziesel score on the next play. The opposing team agreed and seconds later, Ziesel ran 60 yards down the sideline to the end zone. It's amazing how one play in a game can mean so much to a kid.

In the article, Amid the Grieving, A Rare Act of Sportsmanship, Johntel Franklin, senior captain, had a tragic loss of his mother the same day he had a basketball game against DeKalb, Ill., High School. Franklin and several of his teammates were at the hospital that afternoon when they decided to turn off the life-support system.

Early in the second quarter, Franklin arrives at the game. Even though he was dealing with the lost of his mother, Franklin told coach Womack, "I want to play." Since he wasn't on the roster, the other team was rewarded two free throw shots. The other team denied the shots, even though it was a close game. That shows true character and sportsmanship.

Lastly, In the article 'Unbelievable' sportsmanship in softball game, with two runners on base, Sara Tucholsky hit her first home run over the fence in her career. As she ran to first, she missed the base and as she turned to tag it, she collapsed with a knee injury. She crawled to touch first but could do no more. Then first baseman Mallory Holtman and shortstop Liz Wallace decided the right thing to do was carry her around the bases because that was the only way the home run would count.

“The only thing I remember is that Mallory asked me which leg was the one that hurt,” Tucholsky said. They gently let Tucholsky touch each base with her non injured leg and their team won 4-2. That shows true sportsmanship, and it was the best thing to do.