Lock Haven, Pa. - Chris Clark of California (Pa.) and Jamie Maloney of Clarion have been named the winners of the inaugural PSAC Sportsmanship Award. The award, which is in its first year of existence for the 2008-09 school year, is given to one male and one female student-athlete that best exemplifies the spirit of sportsmanship and who has demonstrated the values of respect and integrity through a specific action ideally directed toward an opponent.
Nominees must also have represented his/her institution in a positive way during competition and must have demonstrated good citizenship outside of competition by fostering a good public image. The winners of the PSAC Sportsmanship Awards are submitted as the nominees for the NCAA Division II Sportsmanship Award. The PSAC Sportsmanship Award was implemented by the PSAC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) this year.
Clark, a graduate student and member of the cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field teams at California, has taken other student-athletes under his wing, mentored them and provided encouragement to them to excel in their sport. At a recent track meet, Clark told Jeff Weiss from Slippery Rock that he would take the lead and help set the pace for the runners since Clark had already qualified for the NCAA national meet. Both Clark and Weiss ran a national qualifier time in the 10K at the conference meet, which is very uncommon in that event. A model student-athlete, Clark has worked on several community projects. Most recently he helped to organize over 120 student-athletes to clean up the community of California.
Maloney, a junior and member of the swimming team at Clarion, made a very generous gesture at this year's PSAC Swimming Championship meet. As she was preparing to swim one of her individual races, she noticed a West Chester female swimmer was panicking after her goggles broke one heat before her race. Maloney did not hesitate to lend her own goggles to the swimmer even though West Chester is traditionally Clarion's biggest rival and the teams usually dual for the conference championship. Maloney was very humble about the situation, saying that “it was no big deal, I hope someone would do the same for me.” Maloney has been involved in Clarion’s canned food drive for the local food bank, Operation Clean Sweep in which Clarion student-athletes help clean up refuse in the local community, “Parents Night Out,” various Make-A-Wish fundraisers, Junior Olympics and Special Olympics.
The NCAA Sportsmanship Award winners will be announced in July.
Other nominees for the PSAC Sportsmanship Awards are listed below.
Ashley Moore, California (Volleyball)
Luke Wilmoth, Clarion (Men’s Swimming)
East Stroudsburg’s Women’s Tennis Team
Kelley Healey, Kutztown (Field Hockey)
Chris Vrabel, Kutztown (Men’s Basketball)
Stephanie Harrison, Shippensburg (Women’s Track & Field)