Repeat Union County Conference honor recognizes character, respect and integrity across Linden High School’s athletic programs.

LINDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NJ — With fall sports in full swing, Linden High School is celebrating an achievement that reaches across its athletic programs: a second consecutive NJSIAA Sportsmanship Award for the Union County Conference.

Athletic Director Mike Firestone announced the recognition, crediting the student-athletes, coaches and staff whose conduct throughout the year helped Linden earn the repeat honor.

“I am extremely proud of this recognition because it reflects much more than wins and losses,” Firestone said. “It speaks to the character, respect, and sportsmanship demonstrated by our student-athletes, coaches, staff, and athletic programs throughout the year.”

Building on Last Year’s Honor

The award from the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association follows Linden’s recognition for the 2024–25 school year, when it was one of three schools in the Union County Conference to receive the distinction.

That earlier achievement was recognized at a February Board of Education meeting and included a sportsmanship banner for the high school gymnasium. The latest award builds on that foundation, reinforcing a standard that extends beyond any one team or season.

“To receive this recognition once is a tremendous accomplishment, but to be selected for the second consecutive year is something our entire school community should be very proud of,” Firestone said.

Competing With Character

Sportsmanship takes shape in the everyday demands of competition: responding to a difficult loss, respecting an opponent, supporting a teammate and staying composed when a game does not go as planned.

Those expectations connect directly to Linden’s ROAR pillars of Resilience, Opportunities, Achievement and Relationships. Athletic participation gives students a setting to practice collaboration, handle challenges and develop leadership, advancing the district’s mission of preparing learners to contribute positively beyond school.

For Firestone, the repeat recognition affirms both the work already done and the responsibility that comes with wearing a Linden uniform.

“It reinforces the culture we continue to build within Linden Athletics and the expectations we have for how our student-athletes and coaches represent Linden High School,” he said.

As fall teams pursue their next victories, that expectation remains part of the game: compete hard, respect others and represent Linden with pride.