Page 9 - 2021 IHSAA Annual Report

LET TER FROM THE COMMIS SIONER

LETTER FROM

To all IHSAA stakeholders:
THE COMMISSIONER I think everyone can agree that the classroom was not the same last year. Nationally, most

students learned remotely and digitally. As a result, and as many educators will tell you, high
school students had a different education as in years past.

However, I’m proud to say that high school sports in Indiana were able to take place in the
“classroom,” which is on the field and the court. And because “class” was in-person, student-
athletes had a close to normal year, at least in terms of learning the life lessons high school
athletics teach.
“There is no doubt in my mind that the A former educator myself, I’ve always been passionate about viewing high school sports as

education-based athletics. And reminiscing on this past year’s athletic seasons only makes me
student-athletes who competed last year are more adamant that high school sports in Indiana come to be viewed as education-based athletics.

You see, many of us celebrate high school sports in this state simply because they are engrained
better equipped to handle all of life's future in our culture—they’re woven into the Hoosier state’s fabric, and they make up our “normal.”

Now, all that’s good enough reason to be a proponent of high school sports, but I want to give
challenges. The pandemic forced them to enroll everyone in this state a deeply rooted reason to celebrate high school sports: because they are
one of the most effective and efficient educational tools for teaching student-athletes the kinds
of life lessons that will mold them into the leaders of tomorrow. This becomes clear, especially
in an advanced course in resiliency.” when looking at last year.

There is no doubt in my mind that the student-athletes who competed last year are better
equipped to handle all of life's future challenges. The pandemic forced them to enroll in an
advanced course in resiliency.

Though resiliency is just one of many attributes high school athletics instills in its participants,
it’s incredibly important to last year because it wasn’t just student-athletes who were resilient,
but every IHSAA stakeholder who helped ensure that competition happened.

So, to all involved, I’m eternally grateful. You ensured the education of our student-athletes. You
served the IHSAA as if it were your own—and I want you to know that it is, that This Is Your IHSAA.

Thank you for helping us educate the future leaders of tomorrow.
While this past year was
Paul Neidig's first as IHSAA With sincere gratitude,
Commissioner, he's spent the
previous 34 years in education Paul Neidig
serving in various roles from Commissioner
teacher and department chair Indiana High School Athletic Association, Inc.
to coach and athletic director.
Prior to joining the IHSAA's
executive staff, Paul was most
recently the Chief of Staff and
Corporation AD for Evansville
Vanderburg Schools.

6 INDIANA HIGH S CHOOL A THLE TIC ASS OCIA TION Annual Report 2021 7