The USA South Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) has announced that Southern Virginia University has earned the 2022 USA South Sportsmanship Trophy. In its first season as full members of the Conference, the Knights collects their first Sportsmanship Trophy after picking up the Team Sportsmanship Award in three sports during the 2021-2022 academic year. The Knights were chosen as winners in football, men's lacrosse, and women's lacrosse. The awarding of the Sportsmanship Trophy took a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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 he/she 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 SAAC's commitment to maintaining a sportsmanlike environment on each of our campuses.
Southern Virginia, along with Covenant College and Wesleyan College were the lone institutions to capture multiple team sportsmanship awards as the Scots and Wolves grabbed two honors each. Agnes Scott College, LaGrange College, Mary Baldwin University, Piedmont University, and Salem College each grabbed single team honors.
The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee hopes that by awarding a Sportsmanship Award, the members of the USA South will understand the importance of this issue. It is vital that good sportsmanship be demonstrated in the arena of competition.
2021-22 Sportsmanship Award Winners
Football - Southern Virginia University
Men's Soccer - Covenant College
Women's Soccer - Agnes Scott College
Volleyball - Mary Baldwin University
Men's Basketball - Covenant College
Women's Basketball - Wesleyan College
Baseball - LaGrange College
Softball - Wesleyan College
Men's Tennis - Piedmont University
Women's Tennis - Salem College
Men's Lacrosse - Southern Virginia University
Women's Lacrosse - Southern Virginia University
Past Sportsmanship Trophy Recipients
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