On a sunny and warm afternoon in September a group of cross-country runners from Laurin Middle School file out to the field behind the school. There, they are led in warm-ups by a group of student-athletes from Prairie High School, where many of the middle schoolers will move on to after eighth grade.
Prairie cross-country coach Cody Barton is also a teacher at Laurin. He came up with the idea of holding a joint practice at least once each season so the middle school students can meet their high school counterparts and see what it takes to succeed at that level.
“Having that mentorship and community loop is important,” Barton said. “They get to benefit from having sports in middle school and then they get to be somebody who gives back later on.”
Organized sports were eliminated at the district’s middle schools in the 1980s following a double levy failure. In 2019, the district’s board of directors approved a plan to bring back middle school sports, contingent on local voter approval of an education and operations levy. This local levy provides the funding for middle school sports in the district, including equipment, facilities and transportation for student-athletes.
Once voters approved the current education and operations levy in November 2021, the district moved ahead with implementing basketball, soccer and cross-country during the 2022-23 school year. Volleyball and track were added the following year.
“Quite a few of our student-athletes have never played in a club sport before, so middle school is a great age to expose them to building the skills necessary to make a high school team in an atmosphere that is less competitive,” said Daybreak Middle School Principal Lesli Collum. “Our coaching staff has worked hard to make middle school sports accessible for each and every student who wants to try out. We've even been able to include students with special needs on our sports teams.”
Several buildings said they noticed significant improvements in academic achievement since organized sports returned.
“Athletics are an extension of the classroom,” said Pleasant Valley Middle School Principal Austin Brothers. “To be eligible to play, you must be academically proficient, and that is a great motivator for middle school students.”
Laurin cross-country coach Rachel Sautter said she’s seen the same thing. “We’ve had students who were struggling academically and they really turned it around because they have to meet specific behaviors and maintain their grades.”
Students noted that playing organized sports made them more assertive, better leaders or improved their communication skills. “I’ve learned that I’m not too shy to put myself out there, you know, block anyone, play defense, stuff like that,” said Zoie Likhatskiy, an eighth grader at Amboy who played basketball this year.
“Middle school sports teach you about relationships with your peers, how to communicate with each other and about sportsmanship in general,” said Duyen Phan, an eighth grader and cross-country athlete at Laurin Middle School.
“As a school leader, you have a front row seat to the ripple effect of positive changes that not everyone may get to see,” said Laurin Middle School Assistant Principal Kelsey Kai. “Parents and community members have shown interest in coaching and supporting our teams; high school programs have reached out to partner in growing our programs and developing athletes; and while students are exposed to various academic lessons in the classroom, there are countless life skills and life lessons they are learning on their sports teams.”
“Sports aren't simply a one-off at Pleasant Valley,” Brothers said, “they are a cultural foundation to support our school, our students and improve the bonds that make great education possible.”
Visit the district website to learn more about middle school sports and how to sign up.
