INDIANAPOLIS – Two UW-Parkside teams have been named the Great Lakes Valley Conference Sportsmanship award winners for their respective sport. Men's track & field and softball were each selected by the league's Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) for their ”good sportsmanship” during the 2011-12 spring season.
 
Head coach Micah VanDenend and the men's track & field team shared the outdoor track award with Bellarmine University. The Rangers, who will send distance runner Ben Orvold to the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, also earned the honor during the indoor season. The team got several strong performances at the GLVC Championships led by Jesus Escareno who was named first team all-conference. The squad's 4x100m relay team also broke its own school record at the meet.
 
The Ranger softball team, led by head coach Laura Fillipp was chosen as the league's softball representative. The young squad which featured no seniors and just six upperclassmen, recorded its signature win of the season when they defeated Northern Kentucky University, 3-0 at the Case Softball Complex. The Norse finished with 38 victories and advanced to the NCAA Super Regional.  The Rangers also knocked off GLVC Tournament qualifier, Bellarmine University.
 
A team award will be presented to each of the squads claiming the team sportsmanship awards. An overall award will be presented to the institution with the most points during the 2011-12 academic year. The Rangers earned the program award in 2008-09.