Michaels Achievement Cup

The Michaels Achievement Cup exists to honor CIAC member schools that provide exemplary athletic programs.

The Cup was created in the early 1980s as the brainchild of Roy Michaels, the owner of Michaels Jewelry, in an effort to recognize outstanding athletic programs. The program recognized yearly winners since that time, and then in 2008 transitioned directly to CIAC oversight of the program.

A committee of CIAC staff, along with representative of other Connecticut High School athletic organizations oversees the selection. Participating schools are asked to submit information via a survey, and a mathematical formula is used to analyze the data. The committee reviews the statistical data and discusses the merits of each potential award recipient based on a comparison of its written criteria and CIAC compliance. All programs that surpass a specific statistical threshold are recognized as exemplary athletic programs within their CIAC class. The top programs are asked to submit additional detailed information, and the committee uses that data to select an overall CIAC Michaels Achievement Cup recipient.

The exemplary programs are notified in late summer, and the overall winner from the previous academic year is announced and recognized publically at a CIAC function in the fall.

Name	School/Organization
Fred Balsamo
Matt Fischer	CAS-CIAC
Barbara Hedden
Paul Hoey	CIAC
Andrea Lavery	Portland High School
Ken Lipshez	Connecticut Sports Writers Alliance
John Michaels	Michaels, Inc.
Karissa Niehoff	CAS-CIAC
Beth Sarnacki	Cromwell High School
Dan Scavone	Berlin High School
Beth Smith	Shelton High School
Trish Witkin	Glastonbury High School

Exemplary athletic programs are defined by rating the following seven criteria:

I. SPORTSMANSHIP (30%)

• Coaching Disqualifications and Player Disqualifications
• Sportsmanship Week Participation:
• Percentage of coaches that attend rule interpretation meetings.
• Holding of Preseason meetings held to discuss conduct and acceptable behavior at contests for parents and athletes
• Sportsmanship recognition from outside groups (League, Officials Association, etc.)

II. PARTICIPATION (20%)

• The percentage of the total number of athletes on the CIAC Eligibility Lists (including non-CIAC Sanctioned Sports) compared to total CIAC School enrollment determined automatically by data reported online.
• Participation numbers are adjusted by DRG.

III. ATHLETIC/SCHOLARSHIP (20%)

• CIAC scholar athlete(s) submitted
• School recognition or award programs specifically for student athletes who perform well academically.
• Athletic department requires all coaches to monitor their athletes’ grade point averages and academic progress.
• Higher Academic Standards than CIAC minimal requirements for Athletes.

IV. ATHLETIC PERSONNEL (10%)

• Employment of a certified athletic trainer.
• School provides ongoing professional development opportunities to your coaching staff relative to CIAC Rules, safe and healthful coaching practices and understanding child and adolescent development?
• School encourages coaches to attend outside professional workshops, conferences and seminars.

V. EQUITY (10%)

• Athletic programs are provided equitable financial resources.
• Athletic programs are provided with adequate athletic facilities which are equally maintained.
• Athletic Programs are provided with adequate equipment and uniforms.

VI. CHEMICAL FREE INITIATIVES (5%)

• Written rules and regulations for student athletes as to substance abuse. (i.e. alcohol, drugs and steroid)?
• Teams are required to attend preseason team meetings to discuss team rules including substance abuse.
• Athletes are required to have made a written and signed commitment to be free of substance abuse during the season.
• Representatives from each of the sports attend substance abuse Leadership Training Workshops.

VII. ATHLETIC ACHEIVEMENT (5%)

• Percentage of the total number of victories as compared to their total CIAC number of games scheduled

Glastonbury High School was named the overall winner for the second straight year, pacing eighteen high school athletic programs selected as CIAC Michael’s Achievement Cup exemplary programs for the 2011-12 academic year.

Avon, Brookfield, Darien, East Hampton, Fairfield Ludlowe, Foran, Gilbert, Glastonbury, Haddam-Killingworth, Joel Barlow, Ledyard, Northwest Catholic, Notre Dame-Fairfield, Valley Regional, Wamogo, Weston, Westbrook, and Woodland, were the programs that received recognition as exemplary programs. The 18 schools represent all six classifications and are selected based on achievement in seven distinct areas which are sportsmanship, participation, athletic scholarship, athletic personnel, equity, chemical free initiatives and athletic achievement.

The 18 schools will be honored at the CIAC Sportsmanship Conference at the AquaTurf in Southington on November 15, and the overall Michael’s Achievement Cup recipient will be announced. The Michael’s Achievement Cup was created in the early 1980s as the brainchild of Roy Michaels, the owner of Michaels Jewelry, in an effort to recognize outstanding athletic programs. The program recognized yearly winners since that time, and then in 2008 transitioned directly to CIAC oversight of the program.

The 2011-12 Michael’s Achievement Cup Exemplary Programs By Class:

• LL: Fairfield Ludlow, Glastonbury
• L: Avon, Darien
• MM: Brookfield, Foran, Joel Barlow, Ledyard
• M: Haddam-Killingworth, Weston, Woodland
• SS: East Hampton, Northwest Catholic, Valley Regional
• S: Gilbert, Notre Dame-Fairfield, Wamogo, Westbrook

Glastonbury High School was named the winner of the Michaels Achievement Cup overall award for the 2010-11 school year, emblematic of the most outstanding athletic program in the state, at the annual CIAC Sportsmanship Conference.

Glastonbury, determined to be the top program in Class LL by a formula that computed values from seven criteria, was chosen from a pool of class recipients that also included:

• Class LL – Simsbury
• Class L – Daniel Hand, Farmington and East Lyme
• Class MM – Brookfield and Joel Barlow
• Class M – Weston and Holy Cross
• Class SS – Valley Regional, Northwest Catholic and Notre Dame-West Haven
• Class S – Shepaug Valley, East Granby, Gilbert and St. Bernard

On the field Glastonbury claimed girls state titles in soccer, gymnastics and indoor track & field, and added 15 finishes in the quarterfinals or better in other state tournaments.

Staples High School earned the CIAC Michaels Achievement Cup for the 2009-10 year. This marked the second year of the revamped selection process under the guidance of the CIAC and Staples impressed the selection committee with its all-around success, in particular its outstanding effort in offering student-leadership seminars. Staples a Class LL program was picked among six finalists and 17 programs that were selected for recognition. Seven of the 17 programs were repeat honorees from the 2008-09 year. The other honored programs were Daniel Hand (L), Berlin (MM), Weston (M), Northwest Catholic (SS), St. Bernard (S), Glastonbury (LL), Darien (L), Branford (MM), Wolcott (M), Valley Regional (SS), Shepaug Valley (S), Ridgefield (LL), East Lyme (L), Brookfield (MM), Northwestern (M), and Sacred Heart Academy (SS).

Weston High School was the recipient of the CIAC Michaels Achievement Cup in the first year of the revamped program. One hundred forty-two schools participated in the program designed to use a variety of measurements to recognize the most outstanding total athletic program. Weston’s athletic program mission statement, coaches handbook, and Captains Circle were all noted as examples of the program’s success. Weston from Class M was selected as the top recipient while 13 other teams were recognized as honorees. The remaining recognized programs were: Simsbury (LL), Daniel Hand (L), Avon (MM), Sacred Heart (SS), Laurelton Hall (S), Cheshire (LL), Wethersfield (L), Branford (MM), St. Joseph (M), East Hampton (SS), Gilbert (S), Ridgefield (LL), Pomperaug (L), Jonathan Law (MM), Lewis Mills (M), Northwest Catholic (SS), and Shepaug Valley (S).