Poland Local Schools Atheltic Department named recipient of the Bruce Brown Award for 2024

Photo courtesy of Craig Hockenberry Poland athletic director Brian Banfield poses in Columbus with the banner he received this morning when Poland was named a recipient of the OIAAA Bruce Brown Award.

Local schools’ athletic departments in Poland became the 2024 recipient of the Ohio Interscholastic Athletic Administrator’s Association’s Bruce Brown Award. The award was received Monday in Columbus.

The purpose of the OIAAA award is to reward schools that have made intentional and consistent efforts to improve the culture of school sports.

“Yesterday (Nov. 10) we were notified that our athletic department has met all criteria to receive one of the highest honors in the state, the Bruce Brown Award of Excellence,” said Polish Superintendent Craig Hockenberry. “This is a very exciting time and a great honor for Poland’s great work in our athletics department. I would like to personally thank Athletic Department Athletic Director Brian Banfield. secretary Kim Brant and everyone involved in meeting the criteria for this award. The credit goes to all of them.”

Hockenberry said Poland was in the running for the award last year.

The name of the award honors the OIAAA’s first Executive Director, Bruce Brown, who passed away in 2020.

To be eligible for the award, an athletic department must meet several criteria in nine different categories, including Philosophy of Education-Based Athletics, Educational Strategies, Risk Management, Access/Equity, Assessment, Technology/Media, Sports Medicine, Innovation/Creativity and Continuous Improvement . According to the OIAAA webpage, the award is for schools that “purposefully teach and support the mission of education-based athletics in Ohio.” The site said schools that define success solely based on wins and losses, or the number of championship trophies they have, are simply missing the point.

“Each year a small group of school districts receive the award and this year was Poland’s year,” Hockenberry said. “The Poland Athletic Department is led by one of the most organized, detailed and passionate athletic directors not only in the region, but in the entire state. (Brian) Banfield uses our athletic programs to bring our community together to win both in the classroom and on the field. This award is well deserved. It tells the story of a school district full of school spirit and pride.”

Banfield made the trip to Columbus this morning to receive the banner that will be displayed at Poland Seminary High School.