The USA South Athletic Conference has announced that Southern Virginia University has earned the 2024 USA South Sportsmanship Trophy. The Knights collect the Sportsmanship Trophy for the third consecutive year after picking up the Team Sportsmanship Award in three sports during the 2023-2024 academic year. The Knights were chosen as winners in men's soccer, men's basketball, and women's basketball.
There is a Sportsmanship Award for the 12 Conference-sponsored team sports. Cross country, golf, and track & field are not included due to a lack of a conference schedule in those particular sports. For each sport, all team members vote for the team they deemed to have demonstrated the best overall sportsmanship throughout the season. The team garnering the most votes receives that sports' Sportsmanship Award. The institution which wins the most individual sport awards is presented with the overall USA South Sportsmanship Trophy. The award came about through Conference's commitment to maintaining a sportsmanlike environment on each of our campuses.
Southern Virginia, along with Brevard College and Mary Baldwin University were the lone institutions to capture multiple team sportsmanship awards as the Tornados and Fighting Squirrels grabbed two honors each. Belhaven University, Meredith College, Methodist University, N.C. Wesleyan University, Salem College, and William Peace University each collected single team honors.
The USA South hopes that by awarding a Sportsmanship Award, the Conference members will understand the importance of this issue. It is vital that good sportsmanship be demonstrated in the arena of competition.
2023-24 Sportsmanship Award Winners
Football - Belhaven University
Men's Soccer - Southern Virginia University
Women's Soccer - Salem College
Volleyball - Mary Baldwin University
Men's Basketball - Southern Virginia University
Women's Basketball - N.C. Wesleyan University and Southern Virginia University
Baseball - Mary Baldwin University
Softball - Brevard College
Men's Lacrosse - Brevard College
Women's Lacrosse - William Peace University
Men's Tennis - Methodist University
Women's Tennis - Meredith College
Past Sportsmanship Trophy Recipients
2023-24 - Southern Virginia University
2022-23 - Southern Virginia University
2021-22 - Southern Virginia University
2020-21 - Vacant (COVID-19)
2019-20 - Vacant (COVID-19)
2018-19 - Covenant College
2017-18 - Covenant College and Mary Baldwin University
2016-17 - Covenant College
2015-16 - Covenant College
2014-15 - Covenant College and Mary Baldwin University
2013-14 - Covenant College
2012-13 - Mary Baldwin University
2011-12 - Mary Baldwin University
2010-11 - Ferrum College
2009-10 - Mary Baldwin University
2008-09 - Mary Baldwin University
2007-08 - Christopher Newport University
2006-07 - Averett University
2005-06 - Averett University
2004-05 - N.C. Wesleyan University