Men's Cross Country Receives Northeast Conference Sportsmanship Award

The Central Connecticut State University men's cross country team received the Northeast Conference Team Sportsmanship Award as announced by NEC Interim Commissioner Ron Ratner this afternoon. This honor comes on the heels of CCSU winning its first ever NEC Men's Cross Country Championship this fall.

"I'm so proud of them for what they accomplished this season," said head coach Eric Blake about his team. "Not only for these guys to go out and win a championship, but to do it the right way, is truly something to be proud of."

Instituted by league Presidents in 2008, the team sportsmanship awards are designed to acknowledge the team in each conference sport that, in the opinion of its peers, most closely demonstrates good sportsmanship based on the NEC Principles of Sportsmanship and Standards of Conduct. Voting is conducted at the conclusion of each season by each team and head coach, who rank teams within the conference based on a set of criteria.

Other winners for the fall of 2009 were Quinnipiac for men's soccer and field hockey, Sacred Heart for volleyball and women's cross country, St. Francis (PA) for football, and Monmouth for women's soccer.

"One of the NEC's highest priorities is the commitment to good sportsmanship by our student-athletes and coaches," said Ratner. "These teams represent the outstanding displays of good sportsmanship that are evident throughout the NEC on a regular basis."