Coldwater Cardinals are riding the wave of extracurricular success! Our Varsity Football Team was 8-1 in the regular season (1-8 just 2 years ago), JV Football had only one loss for an 8-1 record, the Boys’ Varsity Tennis Team was the undefeated Conference Champion ranking 8th in the state, and JV Boys’ Soccer was undefeated. Senior Nooh Aljabaly is the first CHS player ever to be named First Team All State and Junior Wageeh Saeed was named Honorable Mention All State in Division 2. The Varsity Boys’ Soccer team finished the year with a 15-5-2 record. The CHS Girls’ Varsity Volleyball finished 3rd in the Conference, and our CHS Marching Band received a 1 rating at festival for the second straight year. Tanner Holbrook, a leader in the CHS Marching Band, has been selected as the first ever 2-time Macy’s Great American Drum Major. Needless to say, it’s good to be a Cardinal!
Although we hear a lot about sports teams in our community, it’s also good to remember a couple other things about high school student athletes and the impact of extracurricular activities. In high school, participation in sports is the most popular extracurricular activity in the United States and, although engagement in sports requires time, energy, and dedication, it also increases academic performance. It is well documented that being involved in sports correlates with higher GPAs, lower dropout rates, and stronger commitments to school compared to the average, non-athletic high school participant. In an average year, Coldwater High School has over 200 students playing sports in any one season.
Student athletes have to meet eligibility requirements that require them to maintain a certain GPA and avoid absences if they want to play. Researchers at Michigan State University determined that students who participated in vigorous sports did 10 percent better in Science, English, Math and Social Studies compared to non-athletic students. Different studies show various results regarding athlete vs. non-athlete GPAs, with some showing athletes having a full point higher GPA than non-athletes.
Although most of our students won’t go to college on a sports scholarship or won’t compete professionally, we are happy knowing that being involved in sports in high school affects not only their learning success and builds skills that they will need to be successful adults.
It is not only student athletes who have greater success in school, but this is true also for any student who is involved in extracurricular activities such as band, choir, and clubs. Currently, Coldwater High School has 16 active clubs, with an estimated 260 students involved. Those learning to play a musical instrument in middle school and high school equal approximately 90 students, and more than 100 students participate in choir.
We are proud of the number of students who perform double-duty being involved in extra-curricular activities as well as being well-rounded active students. We realize the impact and influence our student athletes have on our community and we hope you will join us as we ride the wave of Cardinal Pride.
Dr. Tina Kerr is the Superintendent of Coldwater Community Schools and can be reached by email at tkerr@ccscards.org or by calling 517-279-5910. The main website for Coldwater Community Schools can be found at http://www.coldwaterschools.org.
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