Winter Sports – What a Winter Sports Wonderland it is -
13 varsity and 7 sub-varsity teams are in the early stages of their sports seasons. Approximately 400 athletes, 340 athletic contests, 10,000 spectators, 1900 practices, 337 officials, 34 bus trips, 27 coaches and 3 academic grade checks encompass a busy season of high school athletics. The demographics listed above only scratch the surface in a winter sports wonderland.
In order for Lakeland student-athletes to enjoy their athletic experience it takes a group of individuals that I consider to be unsung heroes. Between, Thanksgiving recess, winter break, PLAN / MME testing, early release days, and final exams, somehow, Lakeland coaches and athletes manage to get through a constant flow of calendar transitions. With that said, it clearly takes more than just coaches and athletes to trek through a busy sports season.
Not intentially, yet, often overlooked, the unsung heroes of an athletic season are overshadowed by highlights of a successful sports season. Attempting to calculate data regarding the questions below challenges even the best mathematician. With the utmost respect for our unsung heroes, I ask you to consider these questions…
How many times do parents unconditionally transport or provide gas money for their kids during the winter sports season?
How many Booster volunteers do we have working our concession stand in order to provide food and beverages to our spectators during the winter sports season?
How many volunteer team managers, scorekeepers, and statisticians do we have participating on teams to assist coaches during the winter sports season?
How many times and how many custodians do we have participating in the clean-up of locker rooms, athletic facilities, and commons areas to make it a safe and enjoyable environment for our athletes during the winter sports season?
How many ticket takers, announcers, security personnel, and bus drivers do we need during a winter sports season to keep athletics running efficiently?
How many times will our athletic trainer assist an athlete with an injury or assist in the education of injury prevention during this winter sports season?
The message is simple, the enormity of a winter sports season is often overlooked, especially the people behind the scenes who are an integral part of an athlete’s athletic experience. In the spirit of the holiday season, I am thankful and appreciative of all those connected to our athletic programs. Let’s make it a wonderful winter season. Go Eagles!
Greg Michaels, Lakeland Athletic Director
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