LHS Earns State Sportsmanship Award

Lakewood High School has been awarded all three levels of available awards from OHSAA Sportsmanship, Ethics and Integrity Committee, including the highest honor, the Commissioner's Award for Exceptional Sportsmanship.

Lakewood High and Columbus’ Bishop Watterson were the only two schools to earn the Exceptional Sportsmanship Award. To be eligible for the award, a school must have had no ejections during the previous school year and have their sportsmanship verified by tournament managers, league commissioners, contest officials, rival school administrators and includes behavior of coaches and student-athletes, cheer and support groups, mascots, bands and parents/general fans. A student must also write an essay describing the school’s sportsmanship, ethics and integrity program. Junior Adam Giffels submitted the essay for Lakewood.

Lakewood High also earned the Harold A. Meyer Award, which rewards schools with comprehensive sportsmanship, ethics and integrity programs and policies, and the Respect the Game Challenge banner. The Respect the Game Challenge banner recognizes schools that emphasize sportsmanship, ethics and integrity within their school that includes a comprehensive student‐athlete campaign; a coaches’ campaign; a student body, student support group, parents and fan campaign, and a public address announcers campaign. Garfield and Harding middle school have also been awarded the Respect the Game Challenge banner.

“I would like to thank the students, coaches and fans that helped make winning this award possible," said Athletic Director Sean Jackson.

Lakewood High will be honored for its Exceptional Sportsmanship Award at the 2015 OHSAA State Boys’ Basketball Tournament in Columbus.