Page 46 - 2018 IHSAA Annual Report

2017–18: Champions and Awards

The Mental Attitude Awards:

The Names Behind the IHSAA's

Most Prestigious Award

The most prestigious award presented by them are entitled to the recognition that only
the IHSAA every year is the coveted Mental a select few actually receive.
Attitude Award given to one student-athlete
in every class of every sport. IHSAA Mental Twenty-five of the 42 awards are named after
Attitude Award winners have not only excelled a person who has gone beyond the call of duty
in their chosen sport, but also have proven to make sure the student-athletes in our state
to be excellent students, respected leaders have the best possible athletic experience.
in their school community and exemplary They have served tirelessly, often spending
citizens. weeknights traveling to member high schools
and weekends supervising state tournaments.
While only 42 of the IHSAA’s 160,000 High school sports in Indiana would be much
student-athletes are presented with a Mental less impactful than they are today without the
Attitude Award every year, many are immense talent, dedication and hard work of
deserving. Education-based athletics teach these administrative professionals.
life lessons that most high school athletes in
Indiana put into practice. In reality, all of

The C. Eugene Cato Mental Attitude Awards for
boys soccer are named after the fifth commissioner
of the IHSAA (1983-1995).

The Charles F. Maas Mental Attitude Award for
boys cross-country honors the former assistant
commissioner of the IHSAA.

The Blake Ress Mental Attitude Awards for 1A, 2A
and 3A football are named in honor of the seventh
commissioner of the IHSAA (2000-2011). The 4A, 5A
and 6A awards are named after Phil N. Eskew, the
third commissioner of the IHSAA (1962-1976).

The Herman F. Keller Mental Attitude Award for
boys swimming and diving is named after the former
assistant commissioner of the IHSAA.

46 INDIANA HIGH S CHOOL A THLE TIC ASS OCIA TION Annual Report 2018