Some athletes take performance enhancing drugs to gain an edge over their competition and teams may resort to cheating in order to win a big game. Despite this, there are athletes who take the game seriously and approach their opponents with honor and integrity.
One such group of athletes is the Cornwall volleyball team which was the 2019 Section 9 recipient of the Sportsmanship Award given by the of the Mid-Huson Board of Volleyball Officials, Inc. On Feb. 5, Wayne Vetro, a representative from MHVBO, presented the team with a banner during its club practice.
“We worked really hard in developing a culture in our program as far as how we present ourselves and how we talk to officials,” coach Jeff Moulton said. “We even make honor calls, during matches, if an official misses one. I try to tell my players all the time, we only earn the points that we get. We don’t get something given to us.”
Moulton explained honor calls are made in situations where a referee may have missed a call. For example, if another team hits the ball and it’s actually in-bounds and the official calls it out, Cornwall players will call it in and award the opposition a point. Or, if the other team hits the ball and it actually hits off the hands of the girls in front and the official missed it, the team will offer the correction to award the point to the other team.
“I’ve always felt, ‘why are we taking things which aren’t ours?’ It’s a life lesson, I feel.”
Some teams may argue calls, but Moulton said the officials have a tough enough job as is, so why make it harder?
Moulton recalled the team making two honor calls in the section finals, but there could be at least one in every game. No honor call has cost Cornwall a match, but calls have been made in close sets.
In the past, the team has received a sportsmanship award for participation in the state final four, but this is the first time the program has been awarded the high honor in Orange County. This award is not just based on the performance of the varsity girls, but the junior varsity and modified players as well. In addition, this award is based on the display of sportsmanship of the parents and fans during every game and tournament.
The younger players, as well as parents, were invited to witness the presentation so they would understand they’re a part of the honor as well.
