Avon’s varsity boys basketball team is the 2022 recipient of the G. Thomas Emmanuel Sportsmanship Award for the Livingston County Athletic Association.
Given annually by the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials’ (IAABO) Rochester chapter, the award is presented to the team that “best exemplifies the highest degree of sportsmanship in its players, coaches and spectators” within its given conference over the course of the previous season.
The sportsmanship award was first given in 1976 and is named for G. Thomas Emmanuel, a former Section V basketball official, and is based on the principles of integrity and character that Emmanuel embodied during and after his long officiating career.
According to Al Drechsler, chairperson of the award committee, IAABO has three criteria when determining winners.
“After each game, our officials rate both the home and away school based on sportsmanship in three categories: Coaches, players and spectators on a 1-10 scale. The highest score would be a 30,” explained Drechsler. “These results are collected through our officials' website and averaged for the entire season. It really is an award that recognizes the entire basketball community and their approach to sportsmanship.”
Head Coach Rob Fries said the award is a nice finish to a great season that saw the Braves earn a third straight Section V Class C title and make a deep run in the state tournament before falling in the far west regionals to Salamanca, 59-61.
“We talk about winning and work hard to improve as a team, but we also try to do it the right way and emphasize sportsmanship so being recognized for it means a lot to us,” said Fries. “And it’s not just the team. The award takes into account the crowd as well, and that says a lot about our parents and our student section.”
Fries specifically mentioned the contributions of Gang Green - Avon’s raucous student cheering section - in helping create positive, high-energy game time environments that he thinks influenced IAABO’s decision.
“They’re what makes our games so much fun and the officials appreciated their energy and positive spirit,” Fries said. “I am proud of what this team has accomplished, but more proud of who they are and how they represent Avon.”
Given annually by the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials’ (IAABO) Rochester chapter, the G. Thomas Emmanuel Sportsmanship Award is presented to the team that “best exemplifies the highest degree of sportsmanship in its players, coaches and spectators” within its given conference over the course of the previous season.