Bear Necessities Volume 24

I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the importance of being apart of a team and the incredible experience that high school athletics provides to our students. As someone who believes that coaching is a calling, I am continually amazed by the dedication of the coaches in our community. This past winter season, I have witnessed our coaches go above and beyond in caring for their athletes. Whether it's comforting an athlete on the mat, floor, or field when they're injured, doing laundry until the early morning, or meeting with judges for feedback at 12 AM, our coaches are there every step of the way.

I firmly believe that education-based athletics is an extension of the classroom, and our coaches are specialized teachers. Part of their role is to provide feedback, which is essential for both individual growth and team development. We have some remarkable coaches on staff with a tremendous amount of experience—both playing and coaching at the collegiate level. Their feedback will be invaluable for our athletes and program's development. Even when athletes may get sidetracked at practice, I have seen our coaches work hard to refocus them and keep them on track. Managing a team outside the classroom environment can be incredibly challenging, but these coaches are always keeping the team's best interests at heart.

Our athletes' growth, both as players and individuals, is a direct result of this commitment to feedback, mentorship, and teamwork. I am proud of what our current athletes and coaches have accomplished together. And when I follow along with our Bears playing collegiately, I am also filled with great pride when I look them up on their college rosters and see their Mercy highlights in their biographies. I look forward to seeing even more growth as we continue to build this strong community.