Activities Department Update

We are already halfway through the summer! In just a few short weeks, we will begin another exciting school year and the 2026-27 athletic seasons. For many families, summer is anything but a vacation. Between home projects, youth sports, travel tournaments, workouts, community fairs, work, vacations, and family gatherings, our calendars quickly become packed. Sometimes we become so focused on getting to the next event or checking another item off the schedule that we forget to simply enjoy the experience we're currently in. Youth sports can be one of the biggest contributors to that feeling.

Sports create incredible opportunities for young people in the few years they are given in organized sports. They teach discipline, teamwork, resilience, leadership, and perseverance while creating memories that athletes carry with them for the rest of their lives. Unfortunately, sports can also become a source of stress, burnout, family frustrations, entitlement, and resentment when competition begins to overshadow the joy of playing. Our society has gradually accelerated the youth sports experience. Somewhere along the way, many families began believing that if an athlete isn't playing year-round, attending every tournament, or specializing in one sport as early as possible, they will somehow fall behind. That mindset has created tremendous pressure on young athletes. It is not surprising though, when the travel sports industry has become a $274.5 billion industry.

I love sports, and my passion for what they can do in people's lives is unmatched. Sports have shaped much of who I am during my 29 years, which is why it is discouraging to see trends showing so many young athletes walking away from the games they once loved. Research has consistently shown that early sport specialization can increase the risk of burnout and overuse injuries, resulting in 70% of athletes quitting sports before the age of 13, while participation in multiple sports often leads to better long-term athletic development and a greater enjoyment of competition.

Sports are supposed to be fun.

A few weeks ago, my family and I spent an afternoon at one of our local parks. On a nearby baseball field, a father was playing catch with his two sons. They worked on hitting, fielding, and throwing for the entire time we were there. More importantly, they were smiling. They were laughing. They were encouraging one another. I could have watched them all afternoon. It reminded me what youth sports are really about. There were no rankings, no pressure, no scouts, and no tournament championship on the line. It was simply a father investing in his children while they learned the fundamentals of a game they loved. In a few weeks, they'll probably be doing the same thing with another sport.

Those moments; playing catch at the local park, shooting baskets in the driveway, working on skills with your family, or organizing a pickup football game with friends; are where tremendous growth takes place. Those moments develop confidence, creativity, and a genuine love for the game. Best of all, they don't require expensive tournaments or organized practices every day of the week. When I am driving around our communities, I get excited when I see kids outside doing these things on their own time, but it is rare to see compared to my childhood days.

One thing I admire about many European youth sports systems is their emphasis on development. Their athletes generally spend far more time practicing than competing. In the United States, we sometimes do the opposite, playing tournament after tournament while spending less time intentionally developing skills.

Think about it like school. Practices are the lessons. Games are the tests. If students spent more time taking tests than learning the material, we would question whether we were truly helping them grow. Tests are designed to measure what has already been learned—not to teach the material itself. Athletics are no different. Practices are where athletes develop their skills. Competitions simply provide an opportunity to demonstrate that development. The same idea applies to playing multiple sports. We would never encourage students to enroll in only one academic subject because it is their favorite. Every subject teaches different skills that help students become more well-rounded learners. Athletics work much the same way. Each sport develops unique physical abilities, mental skills, and relationships that ultimately make athletes better competitors and better people.

As we begin another school year soon, I encourage our families and athletes to help us get back to what youth sports should be. Let's encourage our students to play multiple sports while being fully invested in the season they are currently participating in. Let's spend more time developing skills than chasing the next tournament. Let's play catch in the backyard, shoot baskets in the driveway, kick a soccer ball around at the park, or simply enjoy competing with family and friends. Let's reduce the pressure and increase the encouragement. Let's focus on development rather than immediate results, because winning is often the byproduct of athletes who love the process of improving. Most importantly, let's remember why we started playing in the first place.

For the love of the game.

The team finished the regular season 17-5 and 10-2 in conference play. With that record,

the Hawks sealed a share of the SEISC-South Conference title, sharing with Mediapolis

and Notre Dame. The team finished with a 10 game win streak heading into a BYE in the

first round of the District 9 tournament. In the second round, the Hawks blanked the Pella

Christian Eagles 10-0 finishing in 6 innings behind a tremendous team showing which

has defined the season thus far. Central Lee hosted the third round District Baseball as the

Hawks faced the Albia Blue Demons last Saturday, July 11. An error ridden inning halfway into the game allowed the Blue Demons to tack on 5 runs, and Central Lee only answered with a run in the same inning. This would be the season ending score as Albia defeated the Hawks and will move on to play at the Substate game as District 9 champions.

Blake Davis leads the Hawks’ offensive attack. His 30 runs, 32 RBIs, and 7 Homeruns

lead the team and place him second in conference in batting average and homeruns hit.

Ward Fraise has been a great lead off batter getting on base consistently and scoring in 26

runs. Mason Sanders helps the offensive barrage with 28 RBIs and 5 Homeruns. Five

Hawks have a batting average over .350 in 50+ at bats. On the base paths, Ward Fraise

and Blake Davis have 16 stolen bases. Defensively, the Hawks average 2 or fewer errors

in a game, a critical stat to win games. Caedon Newton, Carter Ellingboe, and Mason

Sanders each have 4 wins pitching on the season. The Hawks’ collective of pitchers have

a team average 3.16 ERA at the mound. Blake and Mason lead the team with 33

strikeouts each. This has been an exciting group to watch compete, but more importantly,

supporting each other and getting excited for each athlete’s accomplishments. The three seniors, Ward Fraise, Carter Ellingboe, and David White will be missed on the diamond and wearing Central Lee uniforms. Congratulations gentlemen on fulfilled sports careers as Hawks, thank you for the work and dedication you provided.

The softball Hawks ended their season on Thursday, losing in the first round of the

Regional Tournament to West Liberty 0-8 in 5 innings. The young team finished out

15-21 on the season and 7-4 in conference play. They finished tied for 1st in the conference with Holy Trinity Catholic and Mediapolis all sharing the conference title. Seniors Kenna

Sandoval and Marie Young finish out their Central Lee athletics careers, and will both

continue their softball careers at the collegiate level. We wish them the best of luck, and

this young team has plenty of potential in the years to come.

Kenna Sandoval led the team offensively in a fitting end to her high school softball

career. She scored 45 runs with Aubree Bunnell behind her at 28, and Kenna also

collected 38 RBIs. The Hawks hit 17 total homeruns on the season, Kenna Sandoval (9),

Charli Day (3), and Aubree Bunnell (3) leading in that category. Sandoval, Charli Day,

and Olivia Day all had a .350 or better batting average in the season. On the base paths,

the Hawks utilized their speed to collect 148 stolen bases, with Kenna Sandoval, Jali

Hawk, and Marcie Benner each getting 20+ stolen bases. Defensively, Kenna and Aubreeheld strong at the hot corner with the most put outs and assists on the team. 8th grader,

Mckenna Fransk filled the catcher’s role in great fashion, throwing out 6 runners and

being a consistent wall behind the plate. Pitching wise, Elaina Barlow had 26 strikeouts

on the season with Rayleigh Burden just behind her at 24. The Hawks’ pitching collective

had an ERA of 3.91.

Schedules can be found on our Bound website.

8/10- First Practice for Fall Sports

Other Events

Central Lee and Memorial Medical Clinics providing Sports Physicals- July 15 8:00am-12:00pm

Summer Sports Banquet- July 23 at 6:00pm

*Beginning of the Year Coaches Meeting- August 3 at 5:00pm

*Beginning of the Year Parent-Athlete Meeting- August 6 at 6:00pm

Fall Sports schedules to be in the next AD Update.

Below are the current coaching vacancies in our district. If you are interested, please contact Tyler Bryant and apply online at TeachIowa. Applicants must have a current Iowa Coaching License/Endorsement. Looking for positive, reliable, and determined individuals for these positions. Interested in getting your Coaching License? Follow this link for the process to obtain it: Coaching Authorization

Basketball Cheer Sponsor

Middle School Boys Basketball Coach

Middle School Soccer Coach