Aberdeen and Montesano High School football teams were named winners of the 2024 South Sound Football Officials Association’s sportsmanship/scholarship programs.

Aberdeen was named as the winner for the 2A, 3A and 4A class group while Monte earned the honor for the 1A, 2B and 1B schools.

Each school will select two students to receive a $1,000 scholarship award apiece to use for their future education endeavours.

“Yet another confirmation that we are doing things right here at Aberdeen,” Bobcats head coach Todd Bridge said.

“It is a tremendous honor for any program to earn,” Monte head coach Terry Jensen said. “It is a direct reflection on how our players play the game and how our coaches coach the game. We would like to thank the South Sound Officials Association for their commitment to high school football and for all the tremendous work they do for high school athletes.”

A press release from the SSFOA reads as follows:

For several years the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association and the Washington Officials Association have placed an emphasis on sportsmanship in High School sports throughout the state.

The South Sound Football Officials Association took this initiative very seriously and in 1998 we created a sportsmanship/scholarship program. Eligibility for our sportsmanship/scholarship program centers on schools in our service area, players, coaches and fans which exemplify sportsmanship in their football programs. Since 1998 we have provided over $68,000 in scholarships to help young men and women further their education at the next level.

Our members selected Aberdeen (2A, 3A and 4A schools) and Montesano (1B, 2B and 1A schools) to receive the South Sound Football Officials Association Sportsmanship Award for 2024 season. Each school will select two students to receive our scholarship award. Each student will receive a $1,000 scholarship to help further their education at the next level.

Our officials donate money from their game fees to cover the cost of these scholarships along with a generous donation of $2,500.00 from Dr. Mark Simmonds of Simmonds Chiropractic (Lacey), who is excited to support the program. We as an Association believe strongly in giving back to communities and this is one way that we can have a positive impact.

Congratulations to all the schools this year for an outstanding season, and especially to this year’s winners, Aberdeen and Montesano.