Sports activities Editor PAT DAILEY patd@cheadliner.com
The highest sports activities story for Christian County in 2023 was really years within the making, culminating in 2023 undefeated runs to COC championships in basketball and soccer, Remaining 4 appearances in baseball, two particular person state championships in wrestling and a person state championship in 2023. path.
With what Nixa has achieved on the sector, and simply as importantly, off the sector, the Eagles' athletics program has develop into the 2023 Headliner's alternative because the #1 story.
There may be high quality and amount in Nixa's beautiful success tales. Nixa takes the highest three spots within the 2023 high 10. The Eagles and Girl Eagles have completed first within the COC All-Sports activities rankings for 2 straight college years.
All through, the work behind the scenes led by AD Brandon Clark has fully enhanced the expertise of Nixa athletes and instilled elevated pleasure among the many Eagles and Girl Eagles.
Viewers usually consult with Nixa athletics as much like a small-school athletic program. However the likes of Evangel and Drury pale compared to Nixa.
Nixa athletics has put itself on a pedestal all through SWMO with its development setting efforts.
“I work with an incredible workforce and superintendent and college board, which permits us to dream massive,” Clark stated. “Lots of the concepts have been (from) years of dreaming and expertise as an AD. I've had the privilege of visiting many states and faculties throughout the nation, attempting to convey the most effective concepts again to Nixa.”
The grey turf at Eagles Stadium hasn't been replicated wherever, however Nixa has proven loads of ingenuity that has already been seen at different faculties and can doubtless proceed to take action. They include:
—The Eagles and Girl Eagles have been the primary at SWMO to maneuver the beginning of their practices to the tip of the college day as a substitute of PE credit score. Practices can begin as early as 1:30pm and generally finish on the identical time different faculties begin apply.
“We began to take a look at athletics the identical as a lot of our different actions collectively, like music, theater, and so on.,” Clark stated. “I consider it has develop into a core perception that athletics is significant to the success of a lot of our college students. The power for college students to overlook fewer hours going to video games and likewise get them residence from apply at an inexpensive time permits them to deal with teachers and work part-time.”
— Nixa has been on the forefront of streaming her video games on YouTube.
— Nixa is exclusive in having job titles inside its athletic program that embody director of soccer operations and sponsorship coordinator.
— The Eagles soccer workforce travels in constitution buses.
— The fascinating video board at Eagles Stadium is rivaled solely by the COC video board at Joplin's Junge Stadium.
— The highschool locker rooms are redone to the “nth diploma.” The Eagles and Girl Eagles have spacious lockers and carpeted locker rooms that embody leather-based armchairs, giant display TVs, elaborate lighting and door and wall designs with the college brand.
“Our faculty places us ready to place our greatest foot ahead,” soccer coach John Perry stated.
Sponsorship cash performed a significant component in funding the athletic program.
“The sponsors we now have in our neighborhood have made an enormous distinction,” Clark stated. “They permit us to not should spend finances cash and taxpayer {dollars} on a lot of our massive efforts. All of our video boards, indoor and out of doors, and our turf have been paid for with sponsorship cash. Now we have additionally been blessed with many beneficiant donors who’ve allowed us to transform our locker rooms and replace tools and different amenities.
“(Sponsorship Coordinator Tricia Chapman) has been such an incredible asset to my division,” he added. “She's in a position to take an enormous burden off my plate and exit and advocate for all of our applications. I do know lots of districts are envious that we now have her working on this capability.”
Clark doesn't take the help Nixa athletics receives without any consideration and couldn't be extra happy with the product that has helped push the Eagles and Girl Eagles ahead.
“We’re blessed to be within the Nixa neighborhood, the place I’ve felt nothing however help for our college students and all of our applications,” Clark stated. “This sort of help from the neighborhood, college board, administration and past is what has allowed us to dream massive and develop into trendsetters within the state.
“Proud doesn't even start to explain the sentiments I’ve for our division, applications and college district,” he added. “I’ve all the time been proud to be the tip of the spear and hoped to encourage different faculties to observe go well with. I consider we’re offering our college students with a novel expertise that they’ll hopefully take into the following part of their lives and be impressed to do nice issues.”
