Page 8 - 2017 IHSAA Annual Report

A Letter from

the Commissioner

Valued Members, Partners and Supporters of Education-Based Athletics,

“I am a member of a team, and I rely on the team,

I defer to it and sacrifice for it, because the team,

not the individual, is the ultimate champion.”

Those words come from the two-time Olympic and two-time World Cup
soccer champion, Mia Hamm when describing the importance of team. In
the spirit of teamwork, I bring you salutations and greetings on behalf of the
Staff and Board of Directors of the Indiana High School Athletic Association,
Inc. I am extremely proud of our team and their tireless efforts on behalf
of the 160,000 student athletes and 409 member schools that comprise the
membership of the IHSAA.

Once again this year, our Association has enjoyed wonderful successes in
the orchestration of education-based athletic opportunities for our students.
These occasions are presented by a much larger team of advocates that ensure
our young people experience meaningful and memorable high school careers.
These dedicated souls stretch across our Hoosier landscape and include
parents and community members through high school faculties and staffs.
Contest officials that adjudicate games and meets without partiality along
with medical personnel that safeguard our students and fans at thousands
of events. Venue owners and operators that provide world class facilities and
service coupled with hundreds of dedicated media operatives that capture
the essence of competition. Benevolent partners and sponsors that buttress
the organization, our Foundation and ultimately, our member schools. We are
truly fortunate to be a part of such a great team.

Over 1.4 million fans attended an IHSAA tournament series event during the
2016-17 school year. The sustenance of our patrons is warmly appreciated
and necessary to continue to provide a quality infrastructure we refer to as

8 INDIANA HIGH S CHOOL A THLE TIC ASS OCIA TION Annual Report 2017