Wildcat Athletics Program Spotlight

The Program Spotlight is a series of informal interviews with different groups of educators at Legacy Academy. This edition of the spotlight is shining on our Wildcat Athletics Program led by Athletic Director Shellie Wendel.

Over the last few years, Wildcat Athletics has grown tremendously. There are many new opportunities for students to learn the foundations of sports and prepare them to enter high school with the skills they need to be successful.

Legacy athletes had many accomplishments over the last school year. Not only did Legacy win championships in the Southeast Metro School Conference for soccer and volleyball, but there were many students who had wins in the classroom where they earned academic honors as well. Legacy holds students to high expectations regarding character traits both on and off the court. Students can be nominated by coaches for the Sportsmanship Award based on how they treat coaches, fellow athletes and students and teachers in the classroom.

Wildcat Athletics has extensive community involvement. Local businesses are involved with supporting our athletes through sponsorships. Parents are deeply involved in supporting the athletics program by providing gear and running concession stands and other fundraisers for the program. Legacy Academy also has close partnerships with other schools in the Elizabeth School District to offer more options to all students in the district.

Legacy Academy’s ethos of Character, Community, Excellence can be seen throughout the Wildcat Athletics Program. Coaches incorporate character education into the program as well as organize events where athletes can participate in community service projects. As the athletic director, Mrs. Wendel prioritizes athletes as students FIRST and understands that excellence can be reached by fostering each student's interests and abilities. In addition to sports, athletes are also involved in choir, theater, band/orchestra, Honor Band (by invitation only), National Junior Honor Society as well as other groups. Mrs. Wendel expects students to step up as leaders and gives them opportunities to have responsibilities that make them well-rounded community members.