MDI’s Sportsmanship Banner

Prior to the Class C State Final on Saturday, November 19th, the MDI High School Football Team was awarded the Maine Principal Association's Class C North Football Sportsmanship Banner for 2016.

This banner will hang prominently in Bernard Parady Gymnasium for fans to look at during sporting contests and school functions. I know that the school places as much pride in receiving this award as it does Gold Balls, and rightly so.

What I thought was a testament to the school, and the coaches, was who they sent out to receive the banner. You see, the students pictured were all members of the football team, who were injured and couldn't play in yesterday's contest. Ezra Johnson, was injured in Week 1. These young men were at every game, and most practices doing whatever they could to help their teammates and coaches. They filled water bottles, lugged equipment and cheered like crazy. They encouraged their teammates and more importantly, were role models, showing their fellow students how to persevere when adversity strikes.

It was only fitting, that they accepted the Sportsmanship Banner on behalf of the team and school.