Belmont Abbey College

Conference Carolinas Sportsmanship Requirements

As a member of Conference Carolinas, Belmont Abbey College competes annually for the league's Messick Award, which is presented for demonstrating the best overall sportsmanship over the entire conference schedule.

Throughout the year, "Mini-Messicks" are presented in each sport, with an overall winner crowned based on the sport standings.

The overall and individual sports awards reflect the vision of Belmont Abbey College President Dr. William Thierfielder, who stresses sport as a means of developing virtue and fair play.

"The goal for Belmont Abbey College Athletics is to achieve virtue and excellence in all arenas of competition," Vice President and Director of Athletics Stephen Miss said. "Competing for the Messick Sportsmanship Award is a testament to an overall commitment to excellence and to Dr. Thierfelder's vision."

The sport-specific Sportsmanship Awards are determined using a voting process implemented by Athletics Directors, which calls for a coach and student-athlete representative to vote together and evaluate the sportsmanship exhibited by conference opponents’ players, coaches and fans during the regular season. After votes have been submitted, the conference office averages the results and the institution with the highest average for each conference sport is awarded the respective Sportsmanship Award.

At the conclusion of the academic year, the institution that has the highest combined average among all conference-sponsored sports is awarded with the Messick Award, which is the highest sportsmanship honor within the conference. As an NCAA Division II member, Conference Carolinas prides itself on creating a positive game environment through sportsmanship to ensure a positive experience for student-athletes and fans alike.

 

Individual sport winners include:

2010-11
Men’s Tennis
Women’s Basketball
Women’s Cross Country

2011-12
Men’s Lacrosse
Women’s Track & Field
Men’s Track & Field
Women’s Basketball
Men’s Cross Country

2012-13
Baseball
Women’s Golf
Women’s Outdoor Track & Field
Men’s Outdoor Track & Field
Women’s Cross Country
Men’s Cross Country
Men's Volleyball

2013-14
Men’s Lacrosse
Women’s Outdoor Track & Field
Men's Volleyball

2014-15
Men's Cross Country
Women's Cross Country
Women's Volleyball
Men's Lacrosse
Men's Outdoor Track & Field

2015-16
Women’s Basketball
Men’s Basketball
Men’s Indoor Track & Field
Men's Volleyball
Softball

2016-17
Men’s Cross Country
Women's Soccer
Women's Basketball
Men's Indoor Track and Field
Men's Lacrosse

2017-18
Men’s Cross Country
Women's Soccer
Men's Soccer
Men's Volleyball
Women's Golf

2018-19
Men’s Soccer
Women's Soccer
Women's Basketball
Men's Indoor Track and Field
Women's Golf

2019-20
Women's Soccer
Women's Indoor Track and Field

2020-21
Men’s Cross Country
Women's Cross Country
Acrobatics and Tumbling
Men's Volleyball

2021-22
Men’s Cross Country
Women's Cross Country
Women's Soccer

2022-23
Men’s Cross Country
Women's Cross Country
Women's Indoor Track and Field
Baseball
Women’s Golf
Women’s Lacrosse
Men’s Outdoor Track & Field
Women’s Outdoor Track & Field