In the phrase “student-athlete,” student comes before athlete, yet too often we see around the country, especially in collegiate athletics, that playing a sport in school is viewed as more important than academics.
Well, that’s not the case here in the Diocese of Brooklyn.
For the first time, our CHSAA has adopted a new Scholar Athlete program to highlight the achievements of varsity boys’ and girls’ student-athletes in the classroom — instead of on the field or court. Brooklyn-Queens is the only diocese in New York state to have a formal program.
The idea was spearheaded by girls’ diocesan CHSAA president Denise Hillig and supported by boys’ president Ray Nash. Dom Vulpis, the CHSAA’s executive director, has overseen the program’s implementation.
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How it works is that at the end of each sports season — fall, winter, and spring — every diocesan Catholic high school recognizes its student-athletes who have performed exceptionally well in the classroom. The athletic directors work closely with the guidance counselors to monitor grades.
“You have to be a student first,” Vulpis said. “There are no athletic scholarships in the CHSAA.”
There are several possible levels of recognition. First, Individual Scholar Athlete awards are presented to students who earn a cumulative average of 90 or higher. If 75% of a varsity team’s roster achieves individual recognitions, that team earns a Team Scholar Athlete award.
To be eligible as a School of Excellence, 75% of a school’s varsity teams must qualify to receive the Team Scholar Athlete award during their respective sports season. A number of schools earned this recognition at the conclusion of the fall sports season.
The highest award is the School of Distinction, in which 100% of a school’s varsity teams earn the Team Scholar Athlete award. This has yet to be achieved through the first sports season.
These full-school awards fit the theme of teamwork quite nicely. Just as individual members of a team work together to achieve a goal, all varsity teams must now work together to earn these academic recognitions.
The buy-in from CHSAA member schools has been instant, since high school athletics truly does not exist without academics coming first. The “work hard, play hard” mentality helps these student-athletes thrive both in the classroom and on the field.
“We’re trying to show evidence to the kids themselves that athletics is way more than about just winning,” Vulpis said. “It’s more about what you’re getting out of it.”
Trophy cases at CHSAA schools will now have space for academic recognitions as well as championship titles, helping celebrate the educational achievements of students just as much as their athletic prowess.
For athletic directors, typically they’d only hear about an athlete’s grades if that student were struggling to meet the minimum average to play a sport in the first place. Now, the administrators are clued in to those students who are excelling in the classroom — and who could perhaps help tutor any students who need an assist.
The Scholar Athlete program builds on CHSAA’s focus to enhance the holistic high school sports experience for student-athletes. Two years ago, the CHSAA formed a Captains Club in which students gain leadership skills by discussing ways to be proactive about highlighting the important Catholic values of sports.
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The vast majority of our high school student-athletes do not go on to play in college, and an even smaller percentage would ever turn pro. That’s why the foundations of a solid education guide these students toward future success.
There’s no doubt that the life of a high school student-athlete is hectic. From school to homework to practices to games to travel to any semblance of a social life to trying to get adequate sleep, time is of the essence.
The CHSAA’s focus on academics has reminded the students that they must first take care of business in the classroom, and all athletic endeavors are secondary. Performance in school will always trump championships.
While it may still be the actual sports teams that are celebrated for winning, the CHSAA is rewriting the script: The real winners are in the classroom, and any additional wins in competition are simply an added bonus.
Once again, “student” comes before “athlete,” and that’s how it will remain.