There is no level of sports in our country as influential and life-changing as high school sports within our nation’s schools. No other level of sports – not youth, elite travel, college or professional – emphasizes sportsmanship and creates life-altering opportunities for making a difference in the lives of others to the magnitude of high school sports.
Yes, high school sports are about the Friday night football game, the rivalry basketball game in the middle of winter and the sun-drenched state baseball game as the year concludes. But the games on the field or court are only the beginning in high school sports – and we are not talking about the miniscule number of high school athletes involved in NIL deals.
There is no level of sports in our country as influential and life-changing as high school sports within our nation’s schools. No other level of sports – not youth, elite travel, college or professional – emphasizes sportsmanship and creates life-altering opportunities for making a difference in the lives of others to the magnitude of high school sports.
Yes, high school sports are about the Friday night football game, the rivalry basketball game in the middle of winter and the sun-drenched state baseball game as the year concludes. But the games on the field or court are only the beginning in high school sports – and we are not talking about the miniscule number of high school athletes involved in NIL deals.
No, we are talking about those high school teams and players that step up to the plate when adversity strikes their peers and others. Time and time again we have witnessed high school coaches and athletes turning the focus from themselves to helping others. And this year has been no different, especially in the South where two major hurricanes led to much tragedy and disaster.
In Boone, North Carolina, several members of the cross country team at Watauga High School had damage to their homes from the after-effects of Hurricane Helene. Despite their own circumstances, Brian Newmark and several teammates handed out bottled water to needy residents, and cleared tree limbs, mud and other debris along a walking trail.
Newmark said being able to give back made him proud of his generation, which is often seen as being too attached to electronics.
“We came to work together to help each other,” Newmark said.
In Florida, student-athletes at Sarasota High School made a difference in their community following Hurricane Helene. In an article by WWSB of Sarasota, Jaxson Parker, a baseball and football player at Sarasota High, said, “I got a text from our head coach saying, ‘hey would anyone be up for volunteering to help these people.’ As soon as I saw that, I said ‘absolutely.’”
“We have a slogan that says, ‘we are Sarasota,’ said BJ Ivey, Sarasota athletic director. “That’s one of the things we’re preaching as a school and school culture.”
"Both of my head coaches texted us in our group chats,” said Carley Ramsden, a softball and volleyball player for Sarasota High School. “It was one of my volleyball teammate’s house that I was at. I knew they needed help.”
“For me it was cool just to see teams working with other teams that we don’t usually get to see throughout the day,” said Greg Mulhollen, head baseball coach.
In Tennessee, the quick thinking and selfless actions of two student-athletes helped recover from a disaster and avert another disaster earlier this fall.
Greeneville Middle School seventh-grader Maggie Moore, a dedicated multi-sport athlete who excels in soccer, basketball, track and cross country, was honored by the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) for her compassionate response to the devastation caused in her state by Hurricane Helene.
The hurricane brought significant flooding to Greeneville and surrounding areas, leaving many families without homes. Recognizing the need in her community, Moore used her connection to the running community to organize a sock drive. Leveraging the state cross country championship meet in Clarksville, where she was a participant, she reached out to fellow runners and coaches through MileSplit, requesting sock donations. The response was overwhelming.
Athletes and their families from across Tennessee donated enough socks to fill three vehicles. Even after the meet, donations continued to pour in, with Moore’s porch overflowing with packages from individuals who wanted to contribute. Moore distributed thousands of collected socks to various organizations serving those impacted by the flooding.
These examples from the recent hurricanes demonstrate that participants in high school sports and other activity programs uniquely understand the “we” not “me” concept of teamwork and offering a helping hand when others need one. There is no time like high school!
Dr. Karissa L. Niehoff is beginning her seventh year as chief executive officer of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) in Indianapolis, Indiana.
