We believe there’s something more important than just winning or losing a tournament. We believe that the team, school, and fans who support their athletes with dignity and class are the true champions. That’s why we’ve proudly sponsored the WIAA/Rural Mutual Insurance Sportsmanship Award for 56 years.
We would like to congratulate the Hudson Raiders on being this year’s recipient of the Girls Basketball Sportsmanship award.
When talking with Head Coach, Jessica Vadnais, we asked her what this award meant to her as a coach, the team and community along with how they teach their athletes about sportsmanship.
It’s special to me as a coach receiving this award. I see the type of human beings this group of 12 girls is every day, and it makes me smile that other people also recognize that. As a team, I know the girls were really excited when they heard that we had received the award. We have a way that we like to go about our business every day as basketball players, and as people, and you could see in their reaction that it meant a great deal to them. As a community, it is a huge deal. We had such a following all season around Hudson, and that really says a lot because they had to watch all of our games streaming this year. We had big streaming numbers every home game, especially throughout the playoffs and that meant a lot to the coaching staff and to the girls. There was so much support from the community, and that really showed when we had our sendoff to State and there were hundreds of people that showed up at the High School. We just felt the love all season and we know it was a big deal for Hudson athletics, especially Hudson girls athletics.
I think the teaching of sportsmanship comes in the way I coach and the culture we try to create in Hudson Girls Basketball. We have to make sure we respect others, no matter if you are winning or losing. You are respectful to each other, the other team, the referees, everyone. It’s simply that you treat others how you want to be treated. I think sportsmanship by the girls sets an example and creates a standard for our youth players coming up that this is how it works up here. You have to bring more than just your basketball skills, your attitude and what kind of person you are matters.
Coach Vadnais just completed her 4th season as a coach, and they all have been as Head Coach at Hudson. Her favorite part of coaching is building relationships with her players and sharing with them her love and passion for the game of basketball.
She also went on to comment that seeing the girls grow throughout the years, as players and as people, is incredible. “It’s really special to me to be able to coach at Hudson, the place where I grew up and won a State Championship as a player. It’s important to me to have relationships with these girls in 15 or 20 years from now. That’s what it’s all about for me, just trying to make a difference in their lives and teach them some basketball along the way,” said Coach Vadnais.
Congratulation again on a great season and winning the WIAA/Rural Mutual Sportsmanship award. This is a great achievement for the Hudson community.
