As a part of the IHSA Do What’s Right! Sportsmanship Program, member school personnel and licensed IHSA officials have the ability to recognize acts of exemplary sportsmanship and integrity that occur in IHSA events throughout the school year via the Sport A Winning Attitude Report (SAWA). Those who are recognized receive a special certificate from the IHSA and select SAWAs are featured here on the IHSAState website.

The SAWA Report below on Marian Central Catholic (Woodstock) cross country runner Emma Baumert was submitted by an IHSA member school administrator attending the meet:

I just submitted the following SAWA report for a Girls Cross Country runner for going above and beyond showing good sportsmanship in the Winnebago Regional.

During the Girls Cross Country meet at Winnebago one of the senior runners from Marian Central Catholic, Emma Baumert, was about a half mile from finishing the race, when she noticed a runner from Harvard High School that was running next to her start to get sick, fall down and actually briefly pass out. Emma stopped running and went to the aid of the fallen girl. Emma got the girl to her feet and started walking her towards the finish line. At this time one of the boys from the Marian team who was watching came over and took the ill girl from Emma so she could finish the race. Emma finished the race in 22nd place after stopping and helping one of her competitors. Emma unselfishly sacrificed her own finish, in her senior year Regional meet to help out. We should all be very proud of Emma and feel she is worthy of recognition for her efforts."