9/28 Wrestle with Mr. Twister - multi sport athletes and public vs private rages on

[MR TWISTER]

Is the multi sport athlete dead? Is John Dergo of Morris a dying breed? I talked to Dergo about two weeks ago at a kids football game I was officiating in his home town and he had told me then that he was playing football for fun but would specialize in wrestling in college. You could tell on this bright sunny day after he had just ran for five touchdowns the night before that there was no pressure on him and he was just plain having fun his senior year. In my own house, I basically forced or strongly convinced my son to specialize in the sport he was going to do (wrestling) in college as opposed to his favorite (football) one or his best one (baseball). I loved watching him play other sports and a serious void was felt in our whole household when there was no football or baseball games to go to after so many years. Once I explained to him that we had plenty of film on him and that he had letterred in h.s. in these sports it became easier for him to release himself and concentrate on the task at hand. As a alternative he began to officiate each of the other sports and a young official was created. And that is something we need and a story for another day.

Being good at more than one sport is fun but in this day and age can be counter productive to what the college coaches want. Actually they even contradict themselves as they ask recruits what other sports they play because they want to see the athletic ability and work ethic it takes to be a multiple sport athlete but...they also want the multi-athlete to specialize in their sport. I believe if you specialize you get a leg up on the competition that does not. Dergo is an exception to the rule.

When I was in high school back in the Stone Age (early 70's) I received 13 varsity letters in four sports and it never hindered me getting scholarship money to go to college in my preferred sport of baseball. I don't know if that could be pulled off today. We went from one season to the next and the coaches knew they had to share the athletes. Now the h. s. coach wants the athletes year round and many schools have some serious in-fighting and the like between the coaches. The basketball coaches are the best at keeping their players from playing another sport.

Public versus Private is on the table again. Well the whole state is in a tizzy today following the news that 32 private schools have filed a lawsuit against the IHSA because of the changes in the multiplier rule. I see the point of both sides. The private schools don’t want to be forced to compete all in one division or lose what they already have. The public schools feel that they are not getting a fair opportunity to win championships because the private schools draw from a bigger pool of students and are dominating the championship games. And the IHSA just wants to create an opportunity for all schools to be in a fair situation, reguardless of their location or size. Basically the IHSA just wants to keep the peace. It is not happening. In reality the private schools need the bigger area to fill the student body and their athletic programs benefit from the rule. Actually an academic ruling is effecting athletics since the bigger boundaries original purpose was to benefit enrolment not athletics.

A separate class for all private schools would solve the public schools dilemma but would rob them of the competition that the private schools provide and visa versa. It is amazing how some schools in the public sector are not complaining and are just working harder to get better. Caught up in the entire mess is the poor athlete and his family. Having been in this situation I speak from experience. Coming out of eight grade the choices are real plain for the family of the exceptional athlete and his family to see. If the local school team is not that good, or the education is sub par and you have the money to send your kid to a private school, the writing is on the wall. Often the only way some of these families see a better life for their young children is through athletics. Being at the high profile private school is seen as a way out and into college. Now along comes the IHSA and their rules that allow the exceptional athlete to travel out of his local district and hopefully to a better situation. That in turn leaves the local public school with less than all of their local athletes, yet they still have to compete with the private school for the championships.

Is it fair? No it is not. And that is coming from someone whose child attends a private school but works at, coached at and attended a public high school. Like most parents you work hard to provide the best or a better situation for your child if you can. However often times the cards that are dealt you are not always the ones you want, so you ask for a hit from the dealer to make a better hand. And as a student –athlete you only have four years to get it right. There are no do overs in high school athletics.