Davenport West, Muscatine claim top sportsmanship ratings

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ELDRIDGE - Davenport West (boys) and Muscatine (girls) were the first-place winners for best overall sportsmanship in the 2008-09 Rotary International/Mississippi Athletic Conference sportsmanship awards competition.

And sportsmanship was better, on average, in three of four spring and summer sports, in ratings by game officials released at the fall meeting of the Mississippi Athletic Conference coaches and athletic directors, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. at Davenport North High School.

First-place winners in the respective sports were: North Scott (softball), Davenport Central (baseball), Davenport North (girls' soccer), and Bettendorf and Davenport West (boys' soccer).

The average ratings (lower is better) improved in all sports except baseball. In 2008, the average rating in boys' soccer was 1.99 compared with 1.55 in 2009. In girls' soccer, the average rating of 1.73 in 2008 dropped to 1.36 in 2009. Similar improvement was recorded for softball (1.33 to 1.25), overall boys' sports (1.60 to 1.39) and overall girls' sports (1.43 to 1.28). Average ratings for baseball were slightly higher, from 1.21 to 1.36.

The ratings, turned in by game officials after each contest, are on the following scale: 1) Outstanding, all positive happenings; 2) Above average, desirable sports climate; 3) Acceptable, mostly positive but not perfect; 4) Needs improvement, some minor negatives; and 5) Unacceptable for high school sports.

During the 2008-09 school year, Davenport West's average rating for all sports was 1.26, narrowly edging out second-place Bettendorf (1.28), third-place Davenport Central (1.30) and fourth-place North Scott (1.33). On the way to their overall title, the Falcons claimed first in boys' basketball and soccer. In girls' sports, Muscatine's average rating for all sports was 1.19, narrowly edging out second-place Bettendorf (1.21), third-place North Scott (1.22) and fourth-place Pleasant Valley (1.26).

North Scott posted perfect 1.00 scores for the conduct of coaches, players and fans for the entire 2009 softball season. In girls' soccer, Davenport North's season average was 1.07. In baseball, Davenport Central's season average was 1.12, and in boys' soccer, Davenport West and Bettendorf tied for first with average ratings of 1.36.

Mike Botts, commissioner of officials, commented, "The Rotary awards have made a significant impact on the sportsmanship displayed at events. The conference as a whole has an excellent overall rating in all sports."

Bill Tubbs, Rotary project coordinator, added, "Game officials, those who are closest to the action, said that sportsmanship, overall, was better. The Rotary clubs of the Mississippi Athletic Conference are delighted to sponsor this program and thank the game officials and athletic directors for their involvement and support."

The awards - attractive banners for display in gymnasiums - are sponsored by the Rotary clubs of Bettendorf, Burlington, Clinton, Davenport, Iowa Quad Cities, Muscatine and North Scott.

Awards are presented annually in nine sports: volleyball, football, boys' and girls' basketball, wrestling, boys' and girls' soccer, baseball and softball, plus overall awards for boys' and girls' sports.