California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section (CIF-SS) held its 13th Annual Dr. Jim Staunton Champions for Character Awards Dinner on Sept. 26, 2016 at The Grand in Long Beach, and among those honored were Rosemead High School Girls Freshmen Sophomore Basketball Team with CIF SS’s first ever team award.  Rosemead’s girl’s freshmen sophomore basketball Coach Chuck Lyons was honored with a Dr. Jim Staunton Champions for Character Coach Award.

Sixteen years ago the State CIF and all 10 sections partnered to promote the 16 principals of coaching, competing and teaching called “Pursuing Victory with Honor.” “Since that  time we have seen students, coaches, athletic directors, officials, administrators, school boards, superintendents, and news media embrace these principles in an effort to give our athletes tools for success on the playing field and in life,” according to Thom Simmons, CIF-SS director of communications.

As a way to recognize those athletes that can combine a competitive nature with the Six Pillars of Character (trustworthiness, responsibility, respect, fairness, caring and citizenship), the CIF-SS Ethics in Sports Committee created the awards, Simmons continued. Athletes, coaches, administrators, officials, schools and news media members who demonstrate these qualities were honored at the dinner and highlighted for their achievements. Additionally, all student winners received scholarship money for their achievements.

“We are excited to celebrate our Champions for Character Award winners this year,” stated CIF-SS Commissioner of Athletics Rob Wigod. “We appreciate their hard work, dedication and commitment toward exemplifying the highest standards of ethics and sportsmanship among our 584 member high schools. They truly represent what it means to be a champion each day.”

Rosemead girl’s freshmen sophomore basketball team in 2013 started Sportsmanship Day once a year when a visiting team plays a game at Rosemead. Both school’s coaching staffs agree in advance to play every player and make the effort to win, and after the game both teams then eat lunch together and talk. “It’s a great way to encourage sportsmanship,” said Lyons. “Play hard, play fair, with respect, sportsmanship and compassion and after the game they can shake hands as friendly competitors at lunch. The players love the day and we have our players draw a greeting card we present to each of their players at lunch. There are different teams each year so we encourage teams to start their own Sportsmanship Day.”

Rosemead started Volunteer Day in December 2014. “One of our five team priorities is compassion for others by volunteering in a community,” continued Lyons. “Let’s work with another school and get two teams doing something for others. In December 2014, Rosemead played at Malibu and after the game and eating, both schools decorated Malibu Boys and Girls Club for the holidays in December. Last year after the game in January at Gladstone, and a quick lunch, both teams combined to make 1,140 sandwiches for veterans and others in need. This season we are working with West Ranch High School and United States Forest Service (USFS) to hopefully plant trees or clean up campgrounds burned in the Sand Fire in Tujunga Canyon near West Ranch High School. We have expanded Volunteer Day this year to also include the girl’s junior varsity teams so Dennis Merkel of US Forest Service and other USFS leaders are planning a project for early January for two busloads of young people caring about restoring our earth, and some players will visit a forest for the first time. Maybe next year we can also include varsity teams.”

CIF-SS is a non-profit corporation organized to direct and administer athletics in secondary schools within its membership and geographical boundaries. The Southern Section is one of 10 sections in California. Not only is CIF Southern Section the largest in the state with its 584 high schools, it represents nearly one half of the state’s high schools, and CIF-SS is the 10th largest association of its type nationally. Each of the state sections operate independently, but within the framework of state CIF.