NMAA News:ALBUQUERQUE ― The New Mexico Activities Association is proud to announce that the Animas High School football team has been recognized as the Compete with Class award recipient for the month of September 2016.
In an email to the NMAA from Reserve Athletic Director Tammy Richards, she explained how Animas showed great sportsmanship and class by allowing a Reserve football player with special needs named Eli Ricks to score his first touchdown.
Richards commented by saying, “Animas was winning handily. Our player was in and was initially taken down. After the opponents players and the officials realized it was Eli, Animas asked for him to get the ball again. They said they’d let him score. So we put him back in and ran the same play. Animas “escorted” Eli into the end zone for a touchdown. It was an amazing display of sportsmanship and class. I couldn’t stop crying and my heart was just plain happy. District matchup and big win for our opponents aside–this makes me proud to be an Animas alumni and a Reserve Mountaineer all at once.”
Sportsmanship is defined by the NMAA as the act of treating others in a respectful manner, taking personal accountability for ones actions, and responding with integrity while engaged in competition.
The NMAA would like to thank and recognize the Animas High School football team for setting a great example for the state of New Mexico.
Their act of sportsmanship exemplifies the true ideals of the Compete with Class Sportsmanship Initiative – respect, integrity, and responsibility. More information regarding the “Compete with Class” sportsmanship initiative can be found on the NMAA website at www.nmact.org.
Note that the NMAA will announce a monthly honoree throughout the remainder of the 2016-2017 school year. Questions regarding this announcement can be directed to Dusty Young, NMAA Associate Director, at (505).977.5385.
