MCKENZIE RIVER COMMUNITY SCHOOL

10 and 15 years ago McKenzie offered Football, Volleyball, Cross Country, Wrestling, Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Baseball, Track and Field, Boys and Girls Golf and Cheerleading.

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Teams were healthy. +20 players for football and both girls and boys basketball had full junior varsity squads. Student athletes had options, if they were interested in playing golf it happened. When students wanted to golf or play baseball it was available.

The youth programs fed into the high school programs. There was school spirit and community. We were all in it together. Fundamentals and developmental skills were taught. So once athletes got to high school they all could dribble left or tackle without hurting themselves.

Currently in 2023-2024 we offered football (had to cancel 3 games due to lack of players), volleyball, cross country, boys and girls basketball and track and field. That’s it!

In 2023-2024 student athletes participate in track because that’s the only option or they don’t play. We have varsity basketball athletes who have never played organized sports ever.

We can blame Covid or the fire that wiped out our entire town, but we don’t make excuses. It’s honestly a lack of enthusiasm and participation in our lower grade levels.

Due to our remote location and lack of youth sports support family’s drive almost an hour to Springfield to participate for other elementary schools or middle schools if they want to play or if they want another sport option. This puts a lot of strain on families. Some families just don’t have the money or the means to do this.

So how can we improve sports at Mckenzie?

Build it like we did… at the youth level. Have easy access and introduction to different sports at an intramural level.

Our best solutions come from our youth. Ask them what they think. It is THEIR school sports experience. How can we at Mckenzie use a grant to improve our athletics for youth?

7th and 8th grade classes (26 students total) were given a survey about sports at McKenzie, what they learn from sports, what they would change at Mckenzie if given the chance too, and what sports they would add at McKenzie if they could. These are their answers.

If you could improve one thing about sports at Mckenzie what would it be?

• Add sports like soccer, wresting and baseball/softball back.
• Better uniforms
• More coaches
• More time to work on our sports.
• Gear like equipment bags. Better gear.

List 3 things you have learned from playing sports.

• Sports skills
• Learn how to work hard
• Discipline
• Teamwork
• Sportsmanship
• How to get stronger
• It’s about effort and not wins.

If Mckenzie added 3 more new sports then what we currently have what would you add?

• Soccer
• Baseball/softball
• Wrestling
• Boys Volleyball
• Lacrosse
• Cheerleading

What do you enjoy most about playing sports?

• The team.
• It’s fun.
• Being with friends.
• The games.
• Learning
• The people you meet.
• Exercise

Exposing girls and boys in 3rd through 6th grades with intramural style athletics after school for 4-6 weeks every quarter would allow them an opportunity they haven’t had as it isn’t provided by the school. (Usually kidsports, eastlane, or YMCA)

ALONG WITH THIS SLIDE SHOW IS A COLLABORATION THAT MYSELF AND OUR PE TEACHER, JOSH HENLEY HAVE CREATED THAT INCLUDES: BASEBALL/SOFTBALL, FOOTBALL, VOLLEYBALL, AND BASKETBALL. WE WOULD ADD SOCCER AS OBVIOUSLY THERE IS INTEREST. LAST SPRING WE HAD THURSDAY JUNIOR GOLF AT TOKATEE GOLF COURSE THAT HAD 8-16 STUDENTS LEARNING/PLAYING GOLF. WE KNOW THERE IS INTEREST IF WE GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY.

When given a chance our student athletes would play. They just need a chance. Thank you for your time and consideration.