Athletics: Mind and Body
The focus on the athletic program is one of the best parts of Mount Michael and should be a reason for you to send your son to Mount Michael. Athletics can not only excel your son's performance in the academic arena, but also in social settings and his spiritual development. In this article, I will outline why playing sports at Mount Michael is attractive, why they out compete against non-Catholic schools, and my experience playing sports in my high school career.
Firstly, you should look to Mount Michael because the class sizes are smaller than any other school you will find in the area. The benefit of having a small class size is that this will allow your son to maximize his potential and chances of playing either varsity or upper-level play even in his freshman year. The school and athletic department needs high participation numbers in order to fill their rosters and practice teams. Majority of these same athletes will play for multiple teams throughout the different sporting seasons. Each sport in each season allows for full involvement which means more playing time for your son. Below is a quote from current Dean of Students and Athletic Director at Mount Michael, Derrick Spooner, on why he believes athletics at Mount Michael is extremely beneficial:
“Our number of students will always be a benefit to those who take advantage of it. We have schools that are very close in distance to us that have the same amount of sports as we do but are operating with 1200 students while Mount Michael is operating with 200 students. This number allows students to have opportunities at the varsity level at an earlier time in their high school career. With our low numbers there is also more time for 1 on 1 instruction with our coaching staff.”
As mentioned by Mr. Spooner schools like Mount Michael are operating with very few numbers which is uncommon for the Catholic school community in Omaha. You should look at this aspect as a pro rather than a con. Your son will have more opportunity and a closer relationship with the coaching staff because they are in an environment where that is needed to succeed.
Per Mount Michaels athletic policy, freshmen have to play two sports in their first year of high school. They require you to play a fall sport which includes cross country, football, or tennis. Then they give you the option to play a winter sport or spring sport. Winter sports include basketball, wrestling, bowling, and swimming while spring sports include golf, shooting, track, and baseball. During my time at Mount Michael, I played tennis my freshman fall semester and played basketball during the winter. Majority of the guys in my class who decided to continue with tennis eventually won the State Championship two years in a row. The reason for this policy is to encourage these young men to build relationships when they are in a new environment and to gauge their interests in multiple sports. Many other Catholic schools around the country follow this same logic, not just Mount Michael. Next I will explain why I believe Mount Michael out competes against public schools in the area.
The reason I feel Mount Michael out competes against public schools is because of the community and history they provide their athletes. As a result of the small class sizes means that your son will be receiving an extremely tight knit family in his sporting career. All of this is a result of these boys living together during the school year. Majority of these teammates also live together in the dorms which naturally makes an immense bond between these young men. They sleep together, eat together, pray together, and study together. The more time these boys spend together, the more output you will see on the field of competition. On the outside, the school and families heavily support their athletes because they realize how vital it is for developing these young men. Teachers, administrators, alumni, and the monastic community all come together for every game to support their students.
One of the coolest parts that I found to be vital during my high school sporting career was the history surrounded by the athletics department. Many of the historic teams that won championships or athletes that broke school and state records are legends around the student body. The reason for this is because of the community and sense of brotherhood that comes with attending Mount Michael. You are the brother of the legend that broke records and won state championships. When it comes down to the game, this will resonate with your son and his teammates which will result in the best effort on that field or court. Also, since the community around the athletic department runs so deep, many of these renowned athletes come back to the school to coach their respective sport. Majority of the time, the coaches of these teams attended Mount Michael years ago and are now giving back to the community that raised them. I found this to be extremely helpful when I was playing basketball because they understand your homework load, stress levels, and the goals you are trying to achieve.
Last, I will give you a look into my experience playing sports at Mount Michael. Basketball was always one of the most important things in my life and that translated to high school basketball very naturally. I was recruited to play for Mount Michael when I was in 8th grade which heavily influenced my decision to attend school there because I knew I would be getting the playing time I wanted. During my freshman year of high school I played tennis and basketball and excelled in both. I had never played tennis before and I got invited to play in a JV invitational for doubles, and we went 2-0. I remember being overjoyed because I was a novice freshman tennis player who just won his first invitational. That would only be possible at a place like Mount Michael or some other Catholic boarding school. After tennis ended, basketball season started and that marked the next four years for me. During my freshman basketball season, I got to play on the levels of freshman A, reserve, junior varsity, and varsity teams. The experience that I got during my freshman season helped me succeed for the next three years. I loved my coaches, managers, teammates, and classmates who supported us. We had one of the best basketball teams in Mount Michael history which could only be attributed to the reasons I stated above.
In a broader sense, basketball and athletics at Mount Michael in general turned me into the man I am today. I learned how to help people, manage my time, take accountability, and work towards my goals. Every Christmas season, we would take trips down to the Heart Ministry Center, a homeless shelter in downtown Omaha, and volunteer to fill patrons' cars with groceries for the season. It was not only our Catholic duty but our human obligation for us to help the unfortunate in their time of need. This kind of message can only be received at schools like Mount Michael due to the upbringing you receive while attending. I learned how to manage my school work when basketball season was at its peak because my time was now divided into multiple schedules. I had to work hard to reach my goals to perform at the highest level I could and that has transferred to life in college. I learned how to be a man and handle life’s adversity. I believe that kids that play sports at Mount Michael have the best chance to continue to live the values they learned in high school and carry them over to life in college.
Overall, your son will find that a sporting career at Mount Michael will launch him into the future with the necessary life skills to help him succeed. I believe the lessons you learn at Mount Michael are unique and hard to find in other institutions around this state. You should look to the athletic department of Mount Michael for the small community, playing time opportunities, and the life lessons your son will receive.
