By EVAN BOURDON
Sheridan High School Student
Editor’s Note: The Sheridan Student Column is brought to readers by Sheridan High School’s 10th grade English class, taught by Abby Williams.
“Rodeo is not really a sport,” at least that’s what I’ve been told.
Did you know Purdue University has a rodeo team? It’s true: the team is part of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA). How about lacrosse, rugby or swimming … again all sports, but not recognized athletically with a varsity letter by many high schools. Maybe because many of the smaller school corporations in Northern Hamilton County cannot support such a program, whether it be because of the size of the student enrollment, or merely financial funding. Regardless, our student-athletes are missing out … I am missing out.
College admission boards are looking for the best applicants, the whole package. It’s not enough to have good grades and above average SAT/ACT scores. “Athletics plays an important role in admissions,” according to Nick Anderson of the Washington Post. Solid academics is the expectation, but sports, leadership roles, and civic involvement make the applicant well-rounded.
I am fortunate that my school administration, and Mr. Davis, Principal of Sheridan High School, consider my rodeo absences as “excused.” These absences are considered much the same as an FFA competition, for example. But why shouldn’t an Athletic Director, be it at Sheridan, or any other school, consider awarding a varsity letter to these student athletes in my same position, in sports programs not offered at school, provided their eligibility and associations can be substantiated?
I rodeo with the National High School Rodeo Association (NHSRA), Indiana Team. We must adhere to a very strict code of conduct and academic standards, reported at the end of each semester. These grade performance standards are far greater than that of the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA). According to the NHSRA Rules and By-Laws, to be eligible to rodeo, a contestant must have a C average in any scheduled class. The IHSAA rules of Athletic Eligibility, rule 18 states: “Passed 70% of the full credit subject, or the equivalent,” but this only applies to core classes.
My freshman year, I received my letterman jacket in football from the legendary coach Bud Wright. Coach is a tough, hard-nosed, old-school coach with a very physically demanding program. Without a doubt, training for rodeo, whether it be in the weight room, practice pen, or the rodeo arena, is far more physically and mentally demanding than my time spent on the football field.
I love being in a small school. I love knowing everyone that walks down the hallway, and the one-on-one time I get with teachers. The bad thing about being in a small school is that we don’t have the same opportunities that some of the bigger schools do. At smaller schools we only have a select few sports that we can letter in, but there are so many more opportunities to play a varsity sport at some of the bigger schools. For this reason, I wonder if the small school environment will help or hurt me when it comes to building my college resume.