Cumberland High School was announced as a co-recipient of the 2015-16 James River District Sportsmanship Cup with Central Lunenburg High School on Oct. 18.

Wallace Owen, Central Lunenburg Athletics Director, said the honor is awarded annually by the Athletic Director’s Council to the district school best exhibiting overall sportsmanship in all sports and activities.

This is Cumberland’s second year in a row receiving the accolade.

“We are proud that our kids and coaches are being respectful to others and representing our school well at all times, home and away,” Cumberland Athletics Director Alfonso Bell said.

The athletics directors (ADs) of all nine schools in the district are on the council, and each of them communicates with their coaches, who give their perspectives on the teams they faced during the course of the season.

“The coaches and ADs communicate on team sportsmanship, communication, behavior, during and after all sporting events events,” Bell said.

Head coaches and sponsors from each district member school casts one vote in their event after their district competition has concluded. The council compiles the votes to determine the winner.

The cup, which will be on display at Cumberland for six months and then move to Central Lunenburg, is the product of a climate of good sportsmanship that has been cultivated across all levels of leadership at both schools.

“At Cumberland our admin staff, athletic director, teachers and coaches always encourage our student athletes to respect others and represent yourself well at all times,” Bell said.