The 2013-14 A.F. Bridges Awards were announced this week, recognizing 63 individuals and nine schools from across the state including Director of Schools Mark Willoughby and DeKalb County High School.
Director Willoughby was named “School Administrator of the Year” in Athletic District 4.
The A.F. Bridges Awards, named after the Tennessee Secondary Schools Athletic Association’s first executive secretary, include awards for School Administrator of the Year, Principal of the Year, Athletic Director of the Year, Female Coach of the Year, Male Coach of the Year, Official of the Year and Contributor of the Year.
In addition to individual honors, the A.F. Bridges Divisional Awards are presented to schools that “have had no reported unsportsmanlike conduct incidents during the previous school year and have displayed an overall positive effort to teach, expect and demand a positive atmosphere of sportsmanship at their particular contests,” according to the TSSAA. DeKalb County High School was among award winners in this category in Class AA.
“Being recognized for one of these awards as a school or individual should be seen as one of the highest honors in high school athletics in our state,” TSSAA Executive Director Bernard Childress said. “Those who receive the awards truly reflect what high school athletics should be about, and that’s good sportsmanship and good citizenship.”
The awards are to be presented at this week’s regional meetings.
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