We are very proud of the Academy girls’ basketball team for their outstanding show of sportsmanship. They voluntarily forfeited their championship title after discovering a scoring error that had incorrectly awarded them the victory. The tragic occurrence had happened days earlier after their thrilling game victory against Apache High School. The match came down to a nail biting 43-42 final score, awarding Apache High the win.
Brendan King, the head coach of Academy, noticed the mistake after watching film from the game. Academy was mistakenly given more points than they had earned due to an error on the scoreboard. This major gaffe happened at a pivotal time in the game. This miscalculation was the basis for the misunderstanding that caused Academy to be declared the tournament champions.
When he discovered just how poorly his team was actually doing, Coach King went to his team in order to deliver the news. His stomach “almost just tied up in knots” when he first accepted the error. The jubilant team took to their social media to celebrate their victory. Quickly, their focus shifted back to integrity when they faced the reality of the circumstance.
In a rare display of exemplary honesty, King personally delivered the championship plaque to Apache High head coach Amy Merriweather. Merriweather said she was thankful and proud to win the top award. She stated that the Academy’s display of integrity and honesty was worth more to her than a victory. “It speaks volumes about their character,” she remarked, highlighting the importance of sportsmanship in high school athletics.
Returning the championship would have triggered a host of legal complications. The Academy was absolutely justified in maintaining the title were they not willing to pursue litigation against the result. Yet this focus on ethical conduct established a strong example for student-athletes as well as universities.
It’s a tale not about the actual athletic accomplishments, but about upholding the spirit of competition’s truthfulness, integrity, and commitment to fair play. In an era of bitter competitive rivalry, Academy’s move is truly exceptional. It’s a good reminder that the true spirit of athletics is about much more than just wins and trophies.