News
The Roots of Responsibility and the Wings of Independence
Letter From the Commissioner
The American writer and motivational speaker, Denis Waitley, once stated, "The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence." As I contemplate the purpose of education-based athletics across our country, I discover numerous parallels between the thoughts of Mr. Waitley and our desired destinations.
The interscholastic sports opportunity provides a wonderful theater for young people to garner many of the life skills necessary to lead productive and contributory roles in our society. Unfortunately, that landscape also contains instances of less-than-desirable outcomes and disappointments. It is in this context where the roots of responsibility can be discussed and examined.
Collectively, we have an obligation to our youth to illustrate and define the roots of responsibility. I would suggest that our best method of instruction is one of personal example. Regardless of our role at an interscholastic contest, the finest teaching we can accomplish is in the exemplary execution of the station we hold at a high school sporting event. Whether you are a student-athlete, parent, coach, contest official, school administrator, or fan, remembering your role and the responsibility you hold to insure a positive and proper conclusion of the event is critical. A seasoned athletic administrator once stated, "When coaches coach, officials officiate, players play, and fans cheer for their team, good things happen." I concur with this line of thinking and strongly believe that by providing these representative examples, our students will learn both personal and shared responsibility. I am confident that all of our stakeholders hold these values. However, in the heat of battle, can we remember them? I am reminded of a former sportsmanship message the IHSAA has used, and it seems appropriate for this discussion:
As I reflect on responsibility and our collaborative work of creating independence for our impressionable young people, I hearken back to an episode from my childhood. After a particularly difficult fourth grade basketball game where my team was soundly defeated by our opponents, I sat in the passenger seat of my father's 1967 Ford Galaxie, distraught. When my dad and coach entered the vehicle for the short ride home, I commenced to whine about the officiating and complain that I couldn't get my shots because the opponents were fouling me. Without hesitation, my father stated, "If you can't take the heat, maybe you should get out of the kitchen." I distinctly remember not understanding what our kitchen had to do with those guys fouling me, but I knew Dad was unhappy with my attitude. Not exactly understanding how to respond to his retort, I blurted out, "Whose side are you on?" Again, without hesitation, he firmly replied, "Robert, I'm on your side, and don't you ever forget it." Fifty years later, I have not forgotten that wisdom. I parallel that moment of tough love to the work we accomplish in our member-schools and the Association.
Make no mistake, our 408 member-schools strive daily to identify and provide the roots of responsibility for all their students. The IHSAA joins their labors on the stage of education-based athletics to provide a platform where these future leaders will earn their wings of independence. There is no finer journey.
Cordially,
Bobby Cox
Commissioner
Indiana High School Athletic Association, Inc.
IHSAA Sportsmanship Program
The IHSAA is proud to recognize eleven outstanding member schools that achieved the Sportsmanship Award during the past year:
- Blue River Valley
- Central Noble
- Clay City
- Edinburgh
- LaPorte
- Manchester
- Monrovia
- North Knox
- North Putnam
- Northwestern
- Oak Hill
A restructured sportsmanship program was instituted in 2013-14, offering additional tools to member-schools specific to coursework and video reminders related to citizenship and sportsmanship. With this new program, higher expectations were set for member-schools. An intentional focus regarding sportsmanship and citizenship will remain a constant point of emphasis. The IHSAA will continue to arm each member with the tools necessary to teach these lessons.
IHSAA Officials
Communications and Continuing Education
The IHSAA will be conducting its 4th Annual Officials Summit on August 13 and 14, 2016. The purpose of this conference is to continue to provide an occasion for our licensed contest officials to engage in meaningful conversations with fellow officials, coaches, athletic administrators and the IHSAA staff. The conference also provides informative workshop sessions on issues important to our officiating community along with an opportunity to recognize officials who have provided noteworthy and dedicated service.
Update on Champions Together Partnership With Special Olympics
It started as a challenge from Commissioner Bobby Cox to the 18 members of the IHSAA Student Advisory Committee (SAC). "Develop a plan for student-athletes around the state to leave a legacy of servant leadership. Let's provide an opportunity for student-athletes to do more than just play sports. Let's come up with a plan where they can give back to the schools and communities that support them and whose name they wear on their uniforms." The members of the IHSAA SAC unanimously recommended forming a partnership with Special Olympics Indiana to accomplish that goal.
The partnership is known as Champions Together, and it offers member-schools three ways to join in establishing a legacy of servant leadership: the Champions Together School Assembly, the Unified Sports Track and Field Tournament Series, and the Unified Champion School Banner Program.
Often described as "life-changing" by students and "the best assembly we've ever had" by administrators, the Champions Together School Assembly promotes awareness, acceptance, respect, anti-bullying, and inclusion of all persons with intellectual disabilities. This entertaining and meaningful assembly features a nationally-known comedian and a moving speech from a Special Olympics athlete. Every student in the audience, student-athlete or not, leaves inspired to make a positive difference in the lives of others and to be more respectful and inclusive in their daily life. The Champions Together School Assembly is offered at no cost to schools through grants from Special Olympics. This assembly has been performed at more than 75 schools to audiences totaling more than 60,000 high school students.
The 2015-16 school year marks our third year of participating in an official Unified Sports activity sanctioned by the IHSAA. Unified Sports is a joint effort between the IHSAA and Special Olympics Indiana to offer students both with and without disabilities an opportunity to compete in an IHSAA activity. The focus of Unified Sports is competition (not simply participation). The goal is to provide more students with the opportunity to be included in a quality experience of sports training and competition. As our by-laws for Unified Sports state, "Sports teach many life lessons: to work as a team, to follow rules, and to be committed. Through sports, we can find shared interests that allow friendships to form. Through Unified Sports, we have an opportunity to make real, positive changes in the lives of students with and without disabilities."
The third Unified Sports IHSAA Track and Field Tournament Series will culminate in the State Championship at Indiana University on June 4, 2016. Last year, 39 schools participated with the top two teams from each sectional competing for the state crown. The Lafayette Jefferson Bronchos celebrated as 2015 State Champions, but every school involved considered themselves winners. There are currently 73 schools registered to compete in the Unified Sports Track and Field Tournament Sectionals on Saturday, May 28, 2016. For more information, check IHSAA By-Laws Rule 200, IHSAA Spring Bulletin 2016, or watch the video below.
Schools that fully embrace the partnership are rewarded with a Unified Champion School banner if they meet the following requirements:
- All school-sponsored activities must be planned, organized, and administered by an Inclusive Student Leadership team that strives to work with students with intellectual disabilities, not for them.
- The school must participate in at least one activity that promotes and encourages awareness, respect, and inclusion of persons with intellectual disabilities.
- The school must organize and participate in at least one Unified Sports activity, such as IHSAA Unified Track and Field, a Unified practice or clinic, or a Unified competition including students with intellectual disabilities and/or local Special Olympics athletes.
- The school must raise a minimum of $1,500 for Special Olympics Indiana.
During the 2014-15 school year, 37 schools earned Unified Champion School status and a total of 241 schools accomplished at least one of the previously-stated goals. For more information on how your school can become involved in Champions Together, contact:
Lee Lonzo
IHSAA Educational Consultant
Director of Champions Together
2015-16 State Champions: Fall
Girls Golf
- Team: Evansville North
- Individual: Alexis Miestowski, Lake Central
Boys Tennis
- Team: North Central (Indianapolis)
- Singles: Sam Concannon, Culver Academies
- Doubles: JJ Kroot & Jon Tuerk, North Central (Indianapolis)
Girls Cross Country
- Team: Carmel
- Individual: Sarah Leinheiser, Carmel
Boys Cross Country
- Team: Carmel
- Individual: Ben Veatch, Carmel
Girls Soccer
- 1A: Fort Wayne Canterbury
- 2A: Brebeuf Jesuit
Boys Soccer
- 1A: Mishawaka Marian
- 2A: Center Grove
Volleyball
- 1A: Christian Academy of Indiana
- 2A: Wapahani
- 3A: Providence
- 4A: Indianapolis Cathedral
Football
- 1A: Lafayette Central Catholic
- 2A: Monrovia
- 3A: Indianapolis Bishop Chatard
- 4A: Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger
- 5A: Fort Wayne Snider
- 6A: Center Grove
2015-16 Mental Attitude Award Recipients
Girls Golf
- Cherise Otter, Bloomington South
Boys Tennis
- Sam Coward, Jeffersonville
Girls Cross Country
- Lauren Johnson, West Lafayette
Boys Cross Country
- Ben Veatch, Carmel
Girls Soccer
- 1A: Kristin East, Evansville Mater Dei
- 2A: Kamra Solomon, Penn
Boys Soccer
- 1A: Keith Owen, Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter
- 2A: Matthew Roop, Harrison (West Lafayette)
Volleyball
- 1A: Cameron Onkren, Lafayette Central Catholic
- 2A: Caitlynn Long, Speedway
- 3A: Audrey Shannon, Providence
- 4A: Audrey Adams, Indianapolis Cathedral
Football
- 1A: Dylan Morris, Linton-Stockton
- 2A: John Williams, Monrovia
- 3A: Jack Folkers, West Lafayette
- 4A: Connor Lynch, East Central
- 5A: Alex Neligh, New Palestine
- 6A: Camden Bohn, Penn
- February 19-20: Wrestling State Finals
- February 26-27: Boys Swimming & Diving State Finals
- February 27: Girls Basketball State Finals
- March 12: Gymnastics State Finals
- March 26: Boys Basketball State Finals