"There Are Things Bigger Than Sport". Two Student-Athletes Win NCAA Sportsmanship Award

In today's society, looking out for number one seems to be paramount. In the arena of sport, this is no exception. Athletes want all the glory for themselves and many times want it at the expense of their team. However, once in a while there are examples of extraordinary selflessness and sacrifice. Two student-athletes, Anthony Dicarlo and Aleksandra M and Aleksandra Mackiewicz, are examples of putting their respective teams first.

Dicarlo, a Senior Wrestler at Div. lll Anderson College in Anderson, SC, and Mackiewicz, a Fencer at Brown University in Rhode Island, were recipients of the NCAA Sportsmanship Award this week. The award goes to student-athletes who have exemplified one or more ideals such as honesty, responsibility, fairness, civility and respect in the competitive environment of intercollegiate athletics.

Dicarlo was asked by Anderson Wrestling Coach Dock Kelly to fill in for an injured teammate. Dicarlo was in the 141 pound weight class and he would be wrestling in a dual meet against Central Missouri St. against an opponent in the 157 lb. weight class. Whether or not Anderson won the dual meet would depend on Dicarlo's performance. He got off to a slow start but came on real strong near the end of the match. With 1 minute left in the Dicarlo's match, all he needed was another take down to ensure victory for himself and the Anderson squad, but the CMU wrestler suffered an eye injury making him easy prey for Dicarlo. However, Anthony Dicarlo decided not to attack and the match ended with the CMU wrestler winning the match and CMU winning the dual meet 20-15.

"If a guy steps on the mat, he’s there to wrestle, so it’s almost an insult if you chose not to wrestle hard", said Dicarlo. "But, in certain situations, when it’s just common courtesy, if he’s motioning to call injury time, it doesn't make any sense to blast him.” Coach Dock Kelly wasn't surprised by his pupil's actions. "Anthony is a competitor to the core,” said Kelly.
"If he can’t succeed the right way, then he doesn’t want the success. I’m grateful for the sport of wrestling because it gave the world an opportunity to see a young man like Anthony DiCarlo.” Kelly compared coaching Dicarlo like seeing Halley's Comet; a once in a lifetime event.
"There are bigger things than sport and one of them is respect for the person", said Dicarlo. “That transcends not just sport, but winning and losing. I try to conduct myself with that mindset not just in sports, but period.”

The other recipient of the NCAA Sportsmanship Award, a female, was Aleksandra Mackiewicz, who is a Sophomore Fencer at Brown University, a Div. l Ivey League school in Rhode Island. Before she began her Sophomore Fencing season, she asked the coach about her chances of earning a berth in the NCAA Regional Competition. She was one of four fencers specialized in the saber, but only three were allowed to compete in the competition. The coach told her that the stronger fencer would compete. All four of the fencers, including Mackiewicz, qualified for the NCAA Regionals, but Mackiewicz was chosen over Sr. Fencer Charlotte Rose. Both had produced excellent results throughout the year, but Mackiewicz got the nod.

Although excited about her opportunity, Mackiewicz didn't feel right about the situation. She felt that Rose, a Senior, deserved the chance to compete in the NCAA Regionals, She had waited her turn patiently, but had never had a chance to compete in the NCAA Regionals. She persuaded the coaches to allow Rose to compete in her place and they agreed. “Coach announced it to the team and I think Charlotte was really surprised,” said Mackiewicz. “She got up and hugged me. I think the whole team was happy with the decision.”

Mackiewicz said she struggled with the decision, but believes she did the right thing. "I’m not going to regret my decision because I felt like I was going to have more respect for myself and my teammates and my coaches,” said Mackiewicz. "In the end, I think it was what was going to be more meaningful to me.”

Charlotte Rose was overwhelmed with gratitude for her teammates actions. "I don’t know how often something like what [Aleksandra] did happens, but I definitely think that her selfless sacrificing of her spot really does speak for itself. This is the epitome of putting the team and teammates before oneself, which I believe to be the essence of a great athlete.” It is very nice and refreshing to hear of stories like this. Student-athletes showing selflessness, sportsmanship and sacrifice for the good for their teammates and opponents alike. More on this story can be found by going to the official website of the NCAA: www.ncaa.org.