Changes to Fall Sports Banquet

Written By:
Danielle Afram

Published:
Oct. 08 2009

This year’s traditional fall sports banquet has been changed. Attendance at the annual fall sports banquet by student athletes and their parents has dropped more than 50 percent over past years.

Last year, a committee was set up to decide how the school could get more people involved with the award nights. Teacher Gary Frace chaired the committee, which consisted of parents and other members who wanted to be involved.

The committee suggested allowing each team to hold an awards night of their own. The committee gave a survey that showed that over half of the teams held a separate award night, as well as the booster club sponsored award night. They felt that since teams already have a separate awards night, it is pointless to put all the work of setting up a different night.

Finally, the committee decided that the efforts of the coaches and staff should not have to be duplicated. The banquet was originally set up so that the parents would do everything, but with the lack of parental support over the last few years, most of the work has instead fallen to the athletic staff.

The final decision to get rid of the banquet was made by the athletic department after many of recommendations from the committee. Coaches were very pleased with this decision.

“Most of the coaches have been asking me to get rid of the banquets for years and both athletes and coaches have said that they do not really care about hearing the awards for the other sports,” Athletic Director Ron Lane said.

Most of the students did not mind that the banquet has been changed.

“It doesn’t matter that much to me. I only play soccer so it’s not really like I need to know about all the other sports teams and the awards that are being handed out to them,” junior Marshall Botto said.

On the other hand, some players were upset that the annual tradition was cancelled.

“I usually look forward to the banquet because it’s interesting to see how the other fall sport’s seasons went, and now we won’t have that chance. I’m still excited to have our team banquet though,” junior Brytni Crist said.

 However, now each team is expected to have a separate award night. The teams will do whatever they desire and athletes will still receive their awards. The only difference is they will receive them by their coaches. The office still plans to put out a list of award winners from each team.

The same will be done for the winter and spring sports banquets. Rather than having the hassle of planning everything, teams will have the luxury of organizing their own award night.