The Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) Boys Basketball Sectional is just a week away, with Sectionals set to tip-off around the Region next Tuesday. Yet before the action gets underway, teams from around the area gathered at the Halls of St. George on Monday evening for one of the long-running, beloved tradition – the 70th Annual Calumet Region Sportsmanship Dinner.
Born as a response to some troublingly unsportsmanlike behavior by fans during the 1954 boys sectional, the dinner is a celebration of sportsmanship by athletes, coaches, officials, and fans. It is also a scholarship fundraiser, with $330,000 distributed to students throughout the dinner’s history.
This year, the Sportsmanship Committee distributed another $15,000 to $20,000, recognizing schools and one individual student for displays of outstanding sportsmanship and leadership.
“We’re particularly proud that this is our 70th dinner,” said John Doherty, chairman of the Sportsmanship Committee. “We think it’s a great opportunity to bring people together, break bread, and celebrate sportsmanship and scholarship. It looks like we’re going to have another great crowd this year.”
This year, a special guest was in attendance – IHSAA Commissioner Paul Neidig. He admired the longstanding tradition, which is emblematic of the organization’s values.
“Any time that group of adults takes the time to give back to student-athletes is great, it’s a packed house and it’s all about sportsmanship and developing these student-athletes,” Neidig said. “That’s what we’re all about.”
He noted just how important it is to instill sportsmanship and other positive values into students.
“As a society, we have to be civil to each other, and at times I think the kids are better at it than the adults that lead our world,” he said. "We have to continue to teach that message along the way. That’s why high school sports exist.”
One set of scholarships was distributed through the Annual D.N. (Mike) Nau Award, with one plaque and scholarship fund distributed to a school from each of last year’s sectionals. The school chosen, including its athletes, coaches, and fans, demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship. The winners were: Gary West Side, Crown Point, River Forest, and Gary Lighthouse.
The Sportsmanship Committee also awarded the Patron Humanitarian Award to Bill Hasse, for his longstanding efforts to improve the quality of life around the Region as well as his commitment to athletics and sportsmanship.
Jeff Nix was recognized for the Stan Dubis award, for his three decades of dedicated officiating around the Region – including as the current president of the Lake County Athletic Officials Association.
Thomas W. Daniels, Lithographic Communications, Geisen Pruzin Funeral & Cremation Services, and Emcor Hyre Electric were all recognized for spending 25 years as patrons of the Sportsmanship Dinner.
The biggest honor of the evening, the Recognition of Leadership and Scholarship Award, went to Crown Point Senior Elliot Swan for his outstanding scholastic achievements and leadership both on and off the court. Swan, in addition to a plaque, received a $3,500 scholarship.
The evening’s keynote speaker, Robbie Hummel, took the stage after the awards. A Valparaiso High School and Purdue University Alumni, Hummel was a star for the Boilermakers and spent two seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves after they selected him in the 2012 NBA Draft. He is a gold medalist and MVP for Team USA Basketball and currently works as a broadcast analyst for NBC, Fox, the Big 10 Network, Westwood One Radio, and Sirius XM.
“I feel so fortunate to have played high school basketball here in Northwest Indiana,” Hummel said. “You guys supported by communities, you‘ve got fan support, student sections, pep bands, and play in some of the cooler high school venues in the country. I’ve been all over, and there’s nothing that compares to what happens on Friday and Saturday nights in Indiana.”
To learn more about the history of the Calumet Region Sportsmanship Dinner, including past award winners, visit sportsmanshipdinner.com.