February Editorial

F= ebruary Editorial

Athletics in the Classroom and on the Court

Labette= Community College provides quality learning opportunities in a supportive environment for suc= cess in a changing world. You know I have to talk about our mission statement at least once in each editorial, but it is truly the foundation on which Labet= te operates! We offer our students opportunities in which to learn, grow, and motivate them to achieve their long-term goals. This changing world is all around us in the classroom and on the court. Instruction in the classroom is improved through technology. = The methods of our coaching staff reflect on the court, mat, field and in the classroom as well. Our coaches have high expectations for their athletes, b= ut not just as a player as a student too.

Our wrestling team is not only currently ranked 3^rd= in the nation, they are ranked as Academic All-Americans in the classroom. = The LCC Lady Cardinal basketball team holds a team average GPA of 3.0, while the Lady Cardinal Softball team works hard in the classroom and maintains a 3.45 grade point average. Our softball team was also named Academic All-Americans and women’s basketball has about three players per year named with th= is honor.

Many of our student athletes come from out of town or ou= t of state. This season, half the women’s basketball team is from Kansas and the o= ther half are out-of-state, and more than half of our wrestlers are from out-of-state. This means that when these students choose Labette as their #1 choice in beginning their career in higher education, they are living and working in our community. They are spending money right here in Parsons and surrounding communities. They have to eat, right! So they go to the store, = out to eat, and buy gas in Parsons. When Parsonians= think of the economic impact of LCC, they may think only of the employees living and working here, but don’t forget about the stu= dents that are spending their money. They are part of the reason that LCC contrib= utes at least $8.5 million back into the community each year. =

While the Cardinal athletes are busy in the classroom, practice, or at a game, they give back to the community in other ways. The women’s basketball team may be seen raking leaves and doing yard work= for the elderly, the wrestlers are helping people move, delivering Stella Wells Christmas trees, hosting clinics for area youth during the summer, raising awareness for Breast Cancer awareness, and the list goes on. The Lady Cardi= nals basketball team is currently ranked 22^nd in the nation and #1 in= the conference.

And let’s not forget about our Athletic Trainer Ben McKinzie, who helps keep our student-athletes healthy. Ben works tirelessly attending practices and games to ensure the health and safety of all the athletes. We also have a continuing partnership with Labette Health and LCC athletic trainer, which insures top-notch care and rehabilitation for injur= ies athletes may sustain.

Check out our Cardinals in action on Saturday, February = 13 at 5:30pm and 7pm in the LCC Gym. See you there!