HT Alum wins SEC and NCAA SportsmanShip Awards

From the MaxPreps Student Section

They say honesty is the best policy. For South Carolina University's Louis Day (Holy Trinity (Hicksville, N.Y.) class of 2008), this turned out to be true. Day was named a recipient of the 4th annual SEC Sportsmanship Award, chosen by a vote of the SEC Directors of Athletics for his actions at the SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championship at Georgia, University. Just a day later, the NCAA Committee on Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct selected Day as the winner of the 2011 National Student-Athlete Sportsmanship Award.

Day was honored due to his display of honesty and sportsmanship in the weight throw competition at the SEC Championships. An official measured Day's throw two meters farther than it was. After the throw, Day told South Carolina coach Mike Sergent of the mistake. Day and Sergent both felt it was unfair for him to move on to the championship round because he didn't earn it. Sergent protested Day's throw and after the protest it showed that the throw was marked inaccurately.

Day knew the spot was off right away.

"When they read the distance, I knew right away that it was wrong," Day said. "The spot was correctly marked but they just read the distance wrong off the tape."

Day, who is the first South Carolina athlete to win the NCAA Sportsmanship Award, was excited about the honor. "It's been a surreal experience, because I didn't think that I would have won either award," he said. "It feels good to brings some positive attention to my university, and have my place in school history as the first winner of the NCAA award from my university."

Day also credited his time at Holy Trinity High School for giving him the proper values in the weight throw circle.

"My career at Trinity helped," he said. "Having coaches like Doug Goodwin Sr. and Doug Goodwin Jr. coaching me in the throwing events definitely helped. They taught me good sportsmanship as well as good technique. I also have to give them credit for getting me started in the sport in the first place."

Day's courageous actions didn't win him first prize at the championship meet, but his actions showed that he played the game the way it should be played.