Indianapolis, In. – The Great Lakes Valley Conference Office announced Southwest Baptist University as the recipient of the James R. Spalding Overall Sportsmanship Award for the 2021-22 season. This is the second consecutive year that SBU has won this prestigious award and 2^nd in only three years since joining the conference.  
 
"What a blessing to win this prestigious award again! We are so proud of our student-athletes, coaches, and the entire SBU Family. We love it when our teams win and compete hard, but we love it even more when they set great examples regardless of the outcome. Great job Bearcats! We are so proud of you!" – SBU Director of Athletics, Mike Pitts
 
Spalding Sportsmanship Awards are given each year to the institutions and student-athletes who actively demonstrate exemplary sportsmanship, character, and conduct during competition throughout the year. The individual award winners are selected from each institution's season-long list of nominees compiled by each sport's head coaches. Furthermore, each institution's coaches rank the top-three teams within their sport that best displayed good sportsmanship throughout the season.
 
The Bearcats acquired team sportsmanship awards in Women's Indoor Track and Field, and both men's and women's outdoor track and field. SBU received the most top-three votes throughout the year.
 
On the individual level, Amanda Berkstresser and Tyler Goatley were the SBU recipients of the Sportsmanship Award. Both are 5^th year seniors on the cross country and track and field team.