CHARACTER & LEADERSHIP WITHIN SPORTS
The Northwest Conference loves celebrating our student-athletes in and outside of the classroom. Character Development and Leadership are a top priority in the conference, and we want to provide our communities with a simple and efficient way to see character, leadership and sportsmanship of our student-athletes through the traits that make them up.
The Northwest Conference is asking every school to select two of the 32 character traits to show recognition to two student-athletes within their programs for that trait. This will be going on throughout the summer and will include the follow words:
| PASSION | APPRECIATION | PREPARATION | SELFLESSNESS | GRIT | ACCOUNTABILITY |
| SPORTSMANSHIP | HUMILITY | COMPETITIVENESS | HONESTY | CARING | CONFIDENCE |
| COMPOSURE | TOLERANCE | COURAGE | POSITIVE ATTITUDE | SERVICE | ENTHUSIASM |
| LEADERSHIP | DETERMINATION | CHARACTER | EFFORT | COMMITMENT | TEAMWORK |
| DESIRE | WORK ETHIC | COACHABLE | TRUST | FOCUS | GOOD JUDGEMENT |
| PERSEVERANCE | INTEGRITY |
Character and Leadership play an important role in the development and success of our schools, and athletics show them in one of the most polarizing ways possible. Today we are recognizing two stellar student-athletes from Oak Harbor High School!
OAK HARBOR HIGH SCHOOL
Trustworthy
Emma Whalen (Oak Harbor)
Junior Emma Whalen exemplifies what it means to be a coachable and trustworthy leader. She brings a consistently positive attitude to every practice and match, encouraging her teammates and helping build a strong team culture. Emma listens to instruction, applies feedback immediately, and leads by example through her work ethic and perseverance. Known for her strong character and great sense of humor, she lifts others up and keeps the team energized, even in challenging moments. Active in school leadership and always dependable with responsibilities, Emma has earned the trust of school staff, coaches, and teammates while representing our community, school, and wrestling program with integrity and class.
Coachable
Cohen Esvelt (Oak Harbor)
Senior Cohen Esvelt embodies what it means to be truly coachable. Throughout the season he consistently showed a willingness to listen, learn, and apply feedback — often making adjustments in real time during practices and games. His attitude, growth mindset, and ability to take constructive coaching and turn it into action set him apart. Cohen’s steady improvement is a direct reflection of his work ethic and his commitment to getting better every day.
