The #SportsmanshipTogether series follows examples of good sportsmanship and programs doing things the right way in an effort to highlight the positive things seen across the NCHSAA during the Association's "Sportsmanship … Together we make the right call" campaign. If you see an example of excellent sportsmanship at an NCHSAA member school or event, please contact James Alverson of the NCHSAA with the details (james@nchsaa.org).
APEX, N.C. – Middle Creek and Fuquay-Varina have built a healthy rivalry since Middle Creek opened in 2002, with a large part of Middle Creek's student population coming from Fuquay-Varina's student base. The two schools are only separated by eight miles and over the last 11 seasons, the two schools have combined to win 10 of the last 11 football conference championships.
In the week leading up to such a heated rivalry game, Middle Creek Football Coach Randy Ragland and Fuquay-Varina Coach Jeb Hall thought it would be a good idea to bring leaders from each school's football program together for a #RespectTheRivalry dinner designed to promote good sportsmanship between the two schools. Many players grew up near each other, but several were meeting for the first time at the dinner.
Coach Ragland said, "This has been such a great rivalry since Middle Creek opened. You have two programs that do their best to do things the right way. Coming together for a dinner like this was a great way to remind them of the importance of not only the great competition on the field, but also the importance of sportsmanship in a great rivalry game like this one."
Student leaders from the two football programs joined together to talk about the opportunity the have to be leaders at their school and to discuss what they can do to not only to promote the rivalry but also to lead the entire student population to have good sportsmanship. The players thought about how to use social media to help promote sportsmanship. They were informed of NCHSAA hashtags #NCHSAAmorethanagame and #SportsmanshipTogether. We all decided to use #RespectTheRivalry this week as well which would promote the game, but also emphasize respect as the first word in the hashtag.
Coach Hall added, "Although the rivalry is important to both schools, both Fuquay-Varina and Middle Creek High Schools were class acts. We wanted to get the teams together to remind them of how important it is to be great leaders on the field as well as off. We wanted to show both student bodies that even though we may be "battling for bragging rights" on Friday nights, we can maintain respect, composure and integrity off the field, as well."
"While the rivalry has been fierce on the field," Middle Creek Athletic Director Jeremy Thompson stated, "the athletes have maintained a positive relationship for the most part." He went on saying, "Some of our general student population has not shown the sportsmanship we'd like to see in all of our young adults, not just athletes. The coaches thought it would be a great idea to bring the leaders of each school's football program together in order to promote good sportsmanship between the schools. They wanted to show that although both teams will do all they can to defeat each other on Friday night that they could enjoy each others company during the week. The rivalry can be intense but at the same time each school could be classy and show respect to each other."
Student leaders from the two football programs joined together to talk about the opportunity to be leaders at their school and to discuss what they can do to not only to promote the rivalry but also to lead the entire student population to have good sportsmanship. Players thought about how to use social media to help promote sportsmanship and will use NCHSAA hashtags #NCHSAAmorethanagame and #SportsmanshipTogether. They also decided to use #RespectTheRivalry this week as well which would promote the game, but also emphasize respect for each other.
