Sylacauga High one of only four Class 5A schools to earn AHSAA Sportsmanship honor

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Sylacauga High School was one of 94 Alabama High School Athletic Association member schools recognized for completing the 2025-26 school year without a single ejection, earning the AHSAA Sportsmanship School designation.

The achievement is particularly notable for the Aggies, as it marks only the second time in school history that Sylacauga has earned the honor. Competing in Class 5A, Sylacauga was one of only four schools in the classification to receive the distinction, joining Brewbaker Tech, Priceville, and Williamson.

The AHSAA Sportsmanship Program, established during the 2007-08 school year, recognizes schools that complete an academic year without any student athlete, coach, or other school representative being ejected from competition.

“We are extremely proud of the emphasis placed on sportsmanship with AHSAA member schools,” AHSAA Executive Director Heath Harmon said in a statement. “While we are not perfect, we continue to strive to provide a sportsmanship model we all can be proud of.”

Harmon said earning the designation is a significant accomplishment given the number of athletic contests, participants, and spectators involved throughout a school year.

“This is a tribute to the administrators, faculty, coaches, parents – and, of course, the student athletes,” Harmon said. “Each school’s leadership and commitment are to be commended.”

Since the program began 19 years ago, 422 high schools have achieved Sportsmanship School status at least once, with AHSAA member schools reaching the milestone a combined 1,902 times.

Schools earning the designation will be honored on Friday, July 24 during the AHSAA and Alabama High School Athletic Directors and Coaches Association Summer Conference at the Montgomery Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center, where principals and athletic directors will be recognized.