LINDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NJ -- In a room filled with student-athletes, coaches, and athletic leaders from across Union County, one message rang clear: how you compete matters just as much as whether you win.

That message took center stage on Wednesday, April 15, at the Union County Conference Sportsmanship Summit, held at Union Catholic High School, where Linden Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Atiya Perkins joined nearly two dozen Linden student-athletes in embracing the power and purpose of sportsmanship. Among them were members of the district’s pioneering girls flag football team, a symbol of expanding opportunity and inclusion in Linden athletics.

The event, organized by Linden Public Schools Athletic Director Mike Firestone and hosted in Union Catholic’s performing arts center, drew representatives from 20 of the conference’s 22 schools. Approximately 400 student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and athletic directors filled the venue for the morning session, reflecting a strong and unified commitment to elevating sportsmanship across all programs.

Setting the Standard

From the outset, Firestone made it clear this was not just another gathering. It was a call to action.

“We’re here because we want to raise the standard of sportsmanship,” Firestone said. “Talent alone doesn’t define a program. Behavior does.”

In a district like Linden, where athletics span three seasons and more than a dozen sports, that standard carries weight. Every game, every moment, and every reaction becomes part of a larger narrative.

Firestone challenged athletes to think beyond the scoreboard, emphasizing that true competitors are revealed in the toughest moments.

“Anyone can act right when things are going well,” he said. “The best athletes show who they really are when things don’t go their way.”

A Lesson Beyond the Game

The symposium’s keynote speaker, veteran educator, coach, and former superintendent Ed Yergulonis, expanded the conversation beyond athletics, framing sportsmanship as a lifelong skill rooted in relationships, discipline, and mindset.

“It’s all about people,” he told the audience. “Building relationships, sustaining them, and treating people the right way.”

His message was anchored in a simple but powerful formula, effort and attitude.

“If you work hard with a good attitude, I can just about guarantee success,” he said, offering a blueprint that resonated far beyond the playing field.

Moments That Define You

Throughout the session, speakers returned to a central theme, response over reaction. Whether it is helping an opponent up, walking away from conflict, or lifting a struggling teammate, those moments shape not just games but reputations.

“One moment of losing your composure can cost your team momentum, even a season,” Firestone noted. “But one moment of leadership can lift your entire team.”

Yergulonis reinforced the importance of resilience, self-discipline, and awareness, even down to body language.

“What are you communicating before you even speak?” he asked, urging athletes to understand the power of presence.

More Than a Symposium

The event concluded with breakout sessions, where athletes engaged in real world scenarios and discussed how to apply sportsmanship in high-pressure situations.

But the true impact will be seen long after the event, in games played, decisions made, and standards upheld. “Sportsmanship isn’t extra,” Firestone reminded the room. “It’s part of winning.”

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