Millard West Green Light

NON-SPONSORED SCHOOL SPORTS ON THEIR OWN

ASHLEY BRACKEN

The uniformed figure skates around the rink, shuffling the black puck back and forth, the worn out skates sketching a trail. As he reaches the goal, he brings the stick back and swings, hitting the puck into the net for the game-winning goal!

However, the next Monday, that achievement goes unnoticed, except among a few friends and classmates who know the player on the hockey team.

Hockey is not a school-sponsored sport.

“Hockey should be sponsored by the school, but I can see why it’s not,” said senior hockey player Jay Weaver. “The school’s insurance policy doesn’t cover our injuries.”

However, according to Steve Joekel, Millard West activities director, hockey is not sponsored by Millard West, because it is not one of the Nebraska School Activities Association sanctioned sports. The NSAA is the governmental organization that establishes the rules and guidelines for the Millard Public Schools to follow when setting up a sport.

“Student athletes who participate in the Millard West-sponsored sports are covered by an insurance policy, given by the NSAA,” said Joekel. “The policy is a catastrophic insurance policy and covers students’ injuries.”

In addition to the lack of insurance coverage, the sports are also considered more violent (than football or basketball). Millard West does not want to encourage student participation in sports that put them in situations where they are more likely to be injured, without the catastrophic insurance that is provided for athletes in basketball, football, track & field, cross country, volleyball, wrestling, swimming and diving, softball, baseball, golf and tennis. While the administration follows the school policy as far as which school sports to sponsor, junior Jon Waller offers his opinion on this matter.

“Hockey should be sponsored by the school, because we’re just as valid as any other sport the school decides to sponsor,” said Waller.

If hockey, lacrosse and trap shooting are not sponsored by Millard West, how do the players pay for equipment and travel fare? They actually pay out of their own pockets or try fundraising.

“We did it [fundraising] once,” explains Waller, “but it was just raffle tickets and no one really does it, so we don’t do fundraising anymore.”

Another sport that has players paying their own way is trap shooting. Similarly, it’s not sponsored by Millard West because of the liability.

B-BALL FOR ALL - Teams shoot for fun

DAN MOTT

Intramural basketball is a great way for students to play an organized game of basketball every week against their peers, when they wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity. Basketball is a perfect example of the harmony between teamwork and skill.

“It forces students to take responsibility and work as a team in order to have fun,” said science teacher Mark Kevan.

Mr. Kevan is sponsoring the tournament for the first time this year. Mr. Ferree sponsored the event in previous years. Although the games are more formal than street basketball games, they give teams a chance to show their skills and out-perform their opponents. Consequently, intramural basketball can become more individually competitive than the school team.

“I don’t try for the school team because I like the intramural competition better,” said senior Patrick Greeve.

The teams are organized by student captains, with a minimum of eight players and a maximum of 12 players per team. Each team has a captain, who is responsible for all administrative details like attending rule meetings, collecting money for T-shirts and participation, and lobbying for team name approval.

The competitive nature of the game in association with the peer-to-peer playing can result in some intense rivalries throughout the season, even in the lower rankings of the tournament. The intramural league provides tough competition for all grade groups and teams. There are two divisions, male/female, and two leagues, 9-10/11-12. The intramural basketball tournaments provide student-led teams to compete against each other in a nice facility in an organized and well-managed way. There are winners and losers, but they all come for the fun of the game.

TOP TEN TEAM - Wrestlers grapple with demands

AMBER HOFFMAN

In past years, wrestling stories have often covered the nutritional habits of wrestlers--how getting into the right weight category was a high priority, leaving wrestlers veering towards dangerous eating habits or even eating disorders. However, there is so much more to wrestling, a deeper story hidden behind the diminishing appeal of the sport. It is a story of a tight-knit group of guys--sweating, laughing and sharing triumphs together.

Stories that cover wrestlers’ dangerous eating habits during the season may not be without evidence, but bad nutrition is not advised or encouraged in any way by coaches or fellow teammates.

“We just don’t eat as much,” said Jared Wilmert, senior captain. “We eat healthier and less junk food.”

Wrestlers meet a demanding schedule of two and a half hours of practice “everyday except Sundays,” Wilmert said.

It’s not uncommon for wrestlers to seek more fitness venues after practice, as well.

“We go to Lifetime Fitness, (we) workout, (and) run,” said Wilmert.

With all of the strenuous work, it wouldn’t be difficult to believe that these athletes are over-worked and suffering from lack of sleep. But instead, with all the exertions they have over a day, sleep comes easily.

“I go to bed earlier. It’s now 9:00 instead of 10:30,” Wilmert said.

Schoolwork is not a problem, either. Wilmert claims that homework gets done because their head coach, Scott Bohlken, demands good grades from them. But Bohlken insists that it’s because the athletes are self-disciplined enough to know that school is as much a priority as wrestling.

Tournaments are often scheduled inconveniently, requiring the athletes to leave classes early to attend them.

This year’s season is expected to be phenomenal. The team is composed of “exciting individuals,” Bohlken said.

Last year’s state tournament resulted in West tying for 15th place. This season is the first time in the history of the school in which the team is ranked in the top ten pre-season.

“There’s lots of good guys (on the team),” Wilmert said.

With the camaraderie, determination, and hard work found within the team, it is easy to see why these Wildcats are expected to excel.