Bay High’s Sportsmanship Committee members (left-to-right): Libby Butler, Bridget Doughty, Kyle Banal, Michael Brajdic, Bay High Athletic/Activities Director Mark Smithberger, Kaitlyn McFeeley, Hannabelle Sterle and Katelyn Waddle. Not pictured is Peter Kahnert. (Photo courtesy of Bay Village Schools)

Bay High claims Meyer Award for 18th time
Sports
Published Oct. 14, 2009

Bay High School has been selected as a 2008-2009 winner of the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Harold A. Meyer Award for Sportsmanship, Ethics and Integrity. Bay High is the only Ohio school to win the award for all 18 years since the award’s inception in 1992.

The awards are presented to schools that demonstrate they have completed an eight-part program that promotes sportsmanship, ethics and integrity in their schools and communities. Winners are required to demonstrate that they have in place:

1. written Board of Education policy on sportsmanship, ethics and integrity in extracurricular activities
2. a broad-based sportsmanship, ethics and integrity committee to coordinate the planning and implementation of a sportsmanship, ethics and integrity program
3. presentations throughout the school year to coaches, athletes, parents, fans and support groups emphasizing the school’s philosophy on sportsmanship, ethics and integrity
4. an ongoing campaign that promotes sportsmanship, ethics and integrity
5. an annual evaluation of all coaches in the areas of instruction and demonstration of sportsmanship, ethics and integrity
6. a procedure for receiving, investigating and acting upon complaints regarding sportsmanship, ethics and integrity
7. a plan for dealing with critical situations such as heated rivalries, overflow crowds and unruly spectators; and, 8- program for acknowledging/ rewarding examples of good sportsmanship, ethics and integrity

At Bay High, students are an important component of the schools’ planning and implementation of a sportsmanship, ethics and integrity program. Bay High students currently on the school’s Sportsmanship Committee are Kyle Banal, Michael Brajdic, Libby Butler, Bridget Doughty, Peter Kahnert, Kaitlyn McFeeley, Hannabelle Sterle and Katelyn Waddle. The group’s advisor is Mark Smithberger, Bay High’s Athletic and Activities Director.

“I commend Bay High principal Jim Cahoon and activities director Mark Smithberger for their diligence in pursuing this annual recognition and its significant requirements, making Bay High the only school in the state to receive the Harold A. Meyer award for all of its 18 years,” said Bay Village schools superintendent Clint Keener. “The award certainly reflects the sportsmanship, ethics and integrity we all expect from our coaches, our students and our fans.”

The award is named in honor of the late Harold A. Meyer, commissioner of the OHSAA from 1969 to 1977.