SOMERSET, N.J. (June 5, 2013) – Once again, Saint Francis U student-athletes have done their school's namesake proud.

With the Red Flash women's tennis team clinching a Northeast Conference Team Sportsmanship Award on Wednesday, SFU bolstered its league-best total to five sportsmanship awards during the 2012-13 academic year.  Saint Francis has led the NEC in team sportsmanship honors in each of the five years since the program was instituted in 2008-09, pulling in 28 total awards.

“We are humbled to once again lead the Northeast Conference in sportsmanship awards for the 2012-13 academic year,” said Bob Krimmel, Saint Francis Director of Athletics.  “This is an area of emphasis as established by the Northeast Conference presidents and we are blessed to have had Fr. Gabriel Zeis' leadership in this area.  It's is a tribute to the leadership of our student-athletes on their respective teams as well as our coaches.  In addition, the work of our team chaplains and the support of the campus community prepare our students to handle the various aspects of success and failure in competition and in life.  I also thank the student-athletes and coaches of the Northeast Conference for honoring us with these awards and for their continuing commitment to enhancing the NEC student-athlete experience.”

The award program, conceived by league Presidents, is 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 captain and head coach, who rank teams within the conference based on a predetermined set of criteria.

“The NEC Council of Presidents have been steadfast in their commitment to the ideals of good sportsmanship and integrity,” said Noreen Morris, NEC Commissioner.  “To demonstrate that commitment our member institutions have adopted the NCAA's Respect campaign as their own, and truly value those who compete with respect and dignity at all times.  The NEC Team Sportsmanship Awards program serves as an excellent forum to recognize those teams that extol the virtues good sportsmanship.  Congratulations to our 2012-13 awards winners and to Saint Francis University for their fifth consecutive year with the most Team Sportsmanship Awards.”