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 over 55 years.
We want to congratulate Mayville High School on being this year’s recipient of the Girls’ Softball Sportsmanship Award.
We talked with Head Coach Steve Pliner and asked him what this award meant to him as a coach, to the team, and the community, along with how they teach their athletes about sportsmanship.
“Our run to the WIAA State Softball tournament was special. I couldn’t be prouder of this group of kids and how they handled themselves through the ups and downs of that run. We have a great group of kids that work hard and are very respectful. To win the sportsmanship award along the way makes this even more special. The support we had from the community this season was tremendous. We try to carry ourselves in a way that will make the community proud. I think we did that this year.
We constantly talk as a team about how we handle ourselves regardless of the situation. There are bigger things in the world than wins and losses on the softball field. You never know what someone else has going on in their life. So, when situations come up, treat everyone with the same respect you would expect to be treated with. The game of softball is supposed to be fun. You have fun with the game by giving your all and taking every minute of it in. The parents of the players on this team deserve a lot of credit also. They have raised respectful young athletes.”
Coach Pliner has been the Head Softball Coach for Mayville for nine years. Before coaching, he was a volunteer assistant for many years. He says his favorite part about coaching is watching the kids grow and learn. “I get to watch them become better softball players over the years, but they also improve and grow as human beings.”
Congratulations again on a great season and winning the WIAA/Rural Mutual Sportsmanship Award! This is a great achievement for the Mayville community.
