Behind The Box Score

With the South Western City Schools levy returning to the ballot today, the players in the fall sports have been stuck with a very tough decision: to stick it out at their current school and workout on their own, or transfer to a new school.  Some have moved already no matter what Issue 2 does, and some are going to have their decision made in about eight hours, when the voters decide to pass it or not. The OHSAA rules state that

“If, and only if, a school district ceases to sponsor its interscholastic athletic program, a student may transfer to any other school and continue his/her eligibility.”

Some athletes have already made plans at other schools for the summer, and they have been working hard at their sport over the break. Jayshon Jackson, running back that rushed for 1,000+ yards and 6 TDs for Central Crossing last year, has moved to go to Westerville South, and is not coming back. “I will not be coming back only because I have moved and the season will already be over cause (CCHS) would have to start from scratch.” Some, like Jayshon, are gone no matter what happens on the 4th, passing or not. According to the way I interpreted the OHSAA bylaws, a student can participate in summer workouts as long as it is not during the sport season. The bylaws define ”sport season” by saying it “shall be determined by the sports regulations for that sport, beginning with the first date on which coaching may begin and concluding on the date when the season ends.” The only main sport seasons that are affected by this all open “the first day of coaching” on August 3rd are Boys/Girls Golf, and Football.

Chris at 2008 Best Of The Southwest

The thought of no athletics for a district is completely crazy, but is going to happen if the voters in SWCS don’t vote yes on Issue 2 today. “As far as a school without sports goes, I envision the most depressing school district in the state. Simple things like homecoming and Friday night football games will be gone. Also there won’t be things such as senior night, with a flower and hug from mom on your playing field, which we have looked forward to four years.” said Chris Yanichko, a cross country runner from Central Crossing, who was honorable mention all-OCC last season for the Comets. Chris will be a Pioneer next year at Jonathan Alder, an independent school who is division II. “I train with the new team every time they get together, which is a whole new experience since their coach is as experienced as the Central Crossing coach was.”

A lot of work has been done by players over the summer with their (possibly) new high school teams. However, other players have their own leagues/tournaments they join, an example being a team formed by Julie Shives and her CC teammates called SWAT (Students Without A Team), which is a team that goes around to different tournaments, playing and competing, just getting ready for the new season, one way or another. My mom actually organized summer volleyball things for us to do, so for the most part I have been with my high school team all summer, because all the girls have been working really hard and coming to things.” Luckily, for some of the fall sport players that are seniors, they can transfer back to their home school in the spring, and graduate there. “I am definitely staying here [CC] if the levy doesn’t pass, but if it doesn’t and I do go to HD, then I’ll come back for the second semester to graduate with all my friends,” Julie said, who was first team all-district last year at Central.

Some can’t come to grips with a school that doesn’t have athletics, choir, theater, and band. “I think that it would be so hard. I don’t even know what to think about it. When you look at other schools, you just think wow why do they get that and I don’t. It’s so hard to understand why it’s not fair.”

Julie setting the ball during a regular season game last year.

Julie’s teammate, Kendal Witherup said about the position the kids are in. “I think kids are going to get into a lot more trouble because there is nothing to keep them busy. It’s going to change a lot of kids’ lives.” she went on to say. The motivation for kids isn’t going to be there, also, as Chris put it, “The kids that work hard and set goals in their sports will no longer be as motivated, especially the ones who aren’t that great at school.”

Personal Opinion: The students I interviewed pretty much summed up how I feel right now. It’s just crazy to even have to think about a school without sports, or anything else. There is nothing to look forward to as a senior: last prom, last homecoming, senior nights. But I guess being a senior at least lets you get out of it, with college following the next year. No one that I know of in Ohio has cut everything at the school level. The only place I know of having a serious problem  with any athletic sport currently is Reynoldsburg, who is in danger of not fielding a football team, rumors have it that they only have 33 players out for all 3 levels, Varsity, JV, and freshman. But still, they might not have enough field a football team, but Central Crossing, Grove City, Westland, and Franklin Heights aren’t going to field any teams. This whole discussion for SWCS could be a moot point in about 9 hours or so, if Issue 2 does pass. The Board Of Education is going to hold a board meeting tonight, the night of the election to approve all the contracts of the coaches. If it does pass, the band will start tomorrow, and go into normal practices. The football teams will be about two days behind.

I would like to give special thanks to the following people: Jayshon Jackson, Julie Shives, Chris Yanichko, and Kendal Witherup for their time to be interviewed.