In our world of youth who have resources and options around them for drug use, it is nice to have a person who stands up and is working to raise the bar on athletes and what is expected of them in school.
Athletes are looked up to in high schools. They are mentioned in the newspapers, they are watched from the bleachers, from the stands, on the fields and even when they travel to play. They represent the school by wearing the colors and by working hard to perfect their sport.
Pat Bangasser is the athletic director at Eastlake High School and he decided to personally invite a group of athletes to join what he called the Athletic Leadership Council.
These student-athletes are recommended by their coaches and teachers. They are handpicked to be people who want to lead in a good way. The mission of this group is to identify and grow leaders in our athletics and activities programs. The core covenants are:
• Be people of INTEGRITY
• Be people who INSPIRE
• Be people of INFLUENCE
• Be people who are INVOLVED
As a rule, athletes sign paperwork that makes an agreement between the athlete and the school that states they will not participate in alcohol and drug use. This is a big commitment for anyone. Teenagers are in a time when many like to experiment, to figure out who they are and to try new things. Eastlake would like drugs and alcohol not to be one of those new things. The fallout later in life is evident, and any steps that students can take to prevent these habits can often start with a commitment to athletics and their bodies.
On the Eastlake football team, the players are expected to refrain from use of these prohibited substances in order to play. The captains work hard to encourage abiding by this rule, as they would like to have all their friends eligible to play.
I think of coach Peterson at University of Washington. I have looked into his record and his rules. Again, he believes these drug habits do nothing to support the team, so he has hard, fast requirements his team members have to abide by to be eligible to play for him. He stands by what he believes and he stands by his consequences. He will ask his best running back or wide receiver or lineman not to suit up if there is evidence of violating the contract.
Often coaches are afraid to jeopardize their teams’ success if they eliminate a very gifted player, but not Coach Peterson. Look at the outcome. No. 4 in the nation and he means business. You do your part, and he will do his. This is a recipe for making changes and for elevating a group of people to greatness.
Obviously the students need to buy into the commitment, but we are in a community where if no one takes the first step, there will be no finish line. If no one brings down a consequence, we will have no achievement. The very lives of our students are at stake here, and I applaud and thank the leaders who will stand by the commitments they have made to their sports teams.
Sometimes sacrificing your best player to teach a lesson can be difficult, but missing a few games is nothing compared to what can happen if there is never a consequence. Let us rise to the occasion. Let us support people like Pat Bangasser and support athletic leadership in our efforts to make our communities more accountable, more safe and more successful.
The wins will follow after the commitments are made for clear minds, bodies and teams.
Amy McOmber is a 22-year resident of Sammamish.
