JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- You hear a lot about scandals in college and professional sports, but a few local teens remind us all of what sportsmanship is all about.
The Bolles girl’s cross country team is good. So good, they almost always get to the state tournament. But this year, there was a twist. Despite making the tourney, the team came home empty-handed.
“They beat us fair and square on the course, so we gave them our medals because we got third,” said senior Micayla Costa.
That's right, the girls voluntarily gave up their second place medals because the team that should have taken second was pushed to fifth place due to a technicality. Two girls on the American Heritage team accidentally switched the timing chips on their shoes. So the Bolles girls say they did what was right.
“It was nice having the medals, but when we talked about it, we decided they deserve it because they beat us. We wouldn't feel right going home with medals we didn't deserve,” said Costa.
Coach Tony Ryan said the girls’ selfless act didn't surprise him.
“I think what happened this past weekend made them feel a lot better about themselves," said Ryan.
“I didn't regret it at all. It was such a good feeling like we're never going to forget it," said sophomore Sarah Jones.
