AUGUSTA, GA -- The Peach Belt Conference has announced the winners of the men & women's golf, men's lacrosse and men & women's tennis Team Sportsmanship Awards. Georgia College & State University claimed the honor in men's golf, men's tennis and shared the honor in women's tennis while Columbus State claimed the women's golf honors, Flagler claimed the men's lacrosse honors and Georgia Southwestern shared the women's tennis honor.
Started in 2008, the Team Sportsmanship Award is presented following each championship season to the team in each sport that best exemplifies the spirit of sportsmanship and generally conducts themselves with a high degree of integrity, character and class. The award is voted for by all teams who compete in that sport. The votes gathered for each sport throughout the year are adjusted into points awarded for each team and used to help determine the 'PBC Institution of the Year Sportsmanship Award’. All points from throughout the year are totaled and shared with the Senior Woman Administrators, who then vote for the ‘PBC Institution of the Year Sportsmanship Award”.
In an effort to encompass more facets of sportsmanship, an ejection component was introduced to the Team Sportsmanship Award this year. Once all team votes have been received, points will be deducted for any teams that received ejections during the regular season. A three point scale will be used, with the team who received the most ejections receiving a three-point deduction, the team with the second highest receiving a two-point deduction, and any team who received an ejection receiving a one-point deduction.
Georgia College & State University won the men's golf award for the third time in program history, and the first since 2019. The Bobcats also claimed the men's tennis award for the fifth time in a row and for the ninth time in team history. GCSU women's tennis claimed the award for the first time since 2021, when they won the award five seasons in a row. GCSU now has 36 total awards as a department, second among all PBC members.
Georgia Southwestern claimed the award for women's tennis for the fifth consecutive season. GSW has 25 total Team Sportsmanship Awards in department history.
Columbus State University women's golf claimed the award for the fourth time in program history, having most recently claimed the award back-to-back in 2023 and 2024. This boosts the department's all-time number to 11.
Flagler wins the men's lacrosse award for the first time in program history. The Saints now have 40 total awards as a department, leading all PBC institutions.
Team Sportsmanship Award Winners
Men’s Golf: Georgia College & State University
Women’s Golf: Columbus State University
Men’s Tennis: Georgia College & State University
Women’s Tennis: Georgia College & State University and Georgia Southwestern State University
Men’s Lacrosse: Flagler College