Page 13 - 2021 IHSAA Annual Report

THE 2020 – 2021 YEAR IN REVIEW

THE 2020–2021 Our Association Runs on a Still, most events were hindered by limited

Life Lesson: Teamwork
or no fan attendance, and the IHSAA had to
call many audibles—specifically regarding
Indiana was one of the only states to start
and finish their sports seasons on time. And championship events.
that’s because of the individual efforts of Because of COVID protocols, Indiana
University was unable to host the state
all who are part of the IHSAA family—from
YEAR IN REVIEW administrators, coaches, athletic trainers, track and field championship, and Purdue
and officials to bus drivers, cafeteria workers,
University was unable to host the state
softball championship. Member-schools
and custodians to parents, grandparents,
and teachers, all the way up to Governor
Holcomb's office and the Indiana Department stepped up to host these two events in lieu
of the universities. In fact, throughout the
of Health. year—often on short notice—member-schools
willingly hosted events that had to be moved
To those mentioned above, we extend our from their original locations, often because of
sincere gratitude. After all, they treated COVID-19 related issues. The IHSAA adapted
the IHSAA as if it were their own. And, in as did its member-schools.
fact, it is—anyone who plays a role in the
student-athlete experience should consider Other host sites adapted as well. Per usual,
themselves part of the IHSAA. the football championships were hosted by
Lucas Oil Stadium. However, to ensure that
When everyone performs their individual fan attendance was possible, the IHSAA had
role, the result is teamwork—and teamwork is to collaborate with the stadium to make sure
what allowed for safe competition to continue requirements were met for social distancing
through the pandemic. In fact, some events as well as disinfecting physical spaces.
provided a semblance of normalcy. The
softball championship was a sell-out event. Similar efforts were made with Bankers Life
The baseball 4A championship at Victory Fieldhouse (now Gainbridge Fieldhouse).
Field was the largest attended event held there Wrestling was the first event that the
Celebrating the Student-Athlete with character development than athletic while it operated at limited capacity. fieldhouse hosted after it was shut down
achievement. Fortunately, because
The IHSAA implores all whom it serves to competition took place, student-athletes
view high school athletics as an extension of were able to build community when many
the classroom, an extra period of instruction non-student-athletes could not, allowing
in the school day for student-athletes to them to form lifelong relationships and create
learn valuable life lessons. That is why high positive memories in a year defined
school athletics truly are education-based by adversity.
athletics. They help student-athletes develop
the necessary life skills to navigate the world Consequently, one could argue that high
as adults. As we reflect on the 2020-21 school school athletics were more effective this past
year, this much becomes clear. year at teaching student-athletes how to battle
and overcome adversity. And not only that, but
While the primary role of the IHSAA has how to do it through teamwork.
always been to provide a platform to teach
life lessons to student-athletes, this past
year required a special curriculum, one Fans of Clay City's softball team pack the stands
with a unique topic: how to play through at Center Grove High School in the spring as
a pandemic—and it was a near-flawless COVID restrictions begin to ease across the state.
performance by our student-athletes. To that
end, in this annual report, we celebrate the
student in student-athlete.

Like any other year, student-athletes
were provided mentors concerned more

11
10 INDIANA HIGH S CHOOL A THLE TIC ASS OCIA TION Annual Report 2021