Perryville athletes acknowledge opponents' sportsmanship

The game is over, the agony of defeat has set in.

There is nothing left to do ... except vote on the player from the opposing team who displayed the best sportsmanship.

Win or lose, that was the process Perryville High School football players went through this past season. The Pirates voted on the player they felt displayed the greatest amount of sportsmanship after each game this season and presented the player with a certificate and an invitation to Perryville's character education banquet, which will take place Tuesday.

"Our kids voted on it after every ballgame, decided who displayed good sportsmanship," Perryville coach Rick Chastain said. "It's very nice to come back with a positive."

Football captain Matt Schamburg said while it may have been tough to think about sportsmanship after a loss, the process was rewarding overall.

"Showing good sportsmanship is important," he said. "If there's someone that shows good sportsmanship in the course of a game, I think they should be rewarded with something. I think it's cool that our school is doing it."

Perryville enjoyed one of its most successful seasons this past season, as the Pirates won their first district title since 1998. Over the course of the season, Perryville had its fare share of heartbreaking losses and thrilling victories, including a 47-41 triple overtime win over Dexter in the district championship game.

Chastain said achieving success on the field was great, but what matters most is developing kids off the field.

"We want to be a good football team and good athletes, but we want to be good young men first," he said. "We want them to be productive citizens once they get out of the football program."

Awarding good sportsmanship is just part of Perryville's character education program, which goes beyond just the football team. The program has monthly slogans and tries to promote character and sportsmanship among Perryville's students. As part of the sportsmanship/citizenship program utilized by the Missouri State High School Activities Association, Perryville was recently recognized as one of 39 schools across the state to be "MSHSAA Leadership Schools."

"I think the character education program is absolutely wonderful," Chastain said. "The kids have embraced it and look forward to it."

Added Schamburg: "This is the first year we've done it, and it's gone well. I think it's a good thing. I think more schools should do it."

Perryville football players will rub elbows with those opposing players during the brunch Tuesday.

"It might be a little awkward," Schaumburg said, "but it will be good to see some of the players we went up against."

Added Chastain: "That's the great thing about sports. You try your best while it's going, but after it's over you turn the page. You have a lot in common."