BMHS Earns Fred Balsamo Sportsmanship Award
Brien McMahon High School received the Fred Balsamo Sportsmanship Award for their “Reinstitute Captain’s Council” initiative. Athletic Director John Cross and members of the Captain’s Council accepted their award at the CIAC Sportsmanship Conference on Oct. 3.
The Captain’s Council provided resources to homeless shelters, food pantries and other organizations that service the needs of the less fortunate. Brien McMahon was one of seven schools to receive the sportsmanship award.
The Fred Balsamo Sportsmanship Award funds sportsmanship initiatives for CIAC members schools. The Sportsmanship committee considers how well applicants support tolerance, acceptance and respect; how the program directly affects the growth of students; how the ideals of the CIAC Class Act Progress are supported; and how broadly the program touches the students and athletes at the school.
The CIAC sportsmanship awards are named in honor of Fred Balsamo, who was a longtime athletic director and executive director of the Connecticut Association of Athletic Directors. Fred was instrumental in the development of the CIAC Class Act Sportsmanship Program as well as the CT Coaching Education courses. Fred is revered across the country for his dedication to education-based athletics.