King's Athletics: Why It's a Great Idea

Any member of the TKC student body can attest to the fact that it takes a unique kind of person to thrive in our community. Our curriculum is rigorous, our faculty consists of some of the best and brightest in their fields, and our campus is located in arguably the most power packed city in the world. It’s a tough place to spend four years.

We make no apologies for this. Actually, we take pride in the fact that whatever it is we’re doing, we strive to go beyond the common standard of good to reach the King’s standard of great.

So why when it comes to one of the biggest parts of American college life, athletics, has there been such a half-hearted turnout both on the field and in the stands?

Maybe Kingsians just don’t see a future for themselves in sports. Maybe that’s why you see so many kids invest time in the Debate Society and Mock Trial. They see these as skills they’re going to be using in their future.

While I am in full support of the King’s Debate Society and Mock Trail I find it shortsighted of us to think that athletics won’t help prepare us for our futures. Think about it. What makes a good athlete?

A good athlete needs courage for when the opponent seems too great. He needs endurance for those close fourth quarter games. He needs dedication for those times when he would rather turn on the TV than hit the gym. He needs patience to run the calls he does not agree with. And he needs humility so that when he reaches the top, he doesn’t forget how quickly he can fall to the bottom. Courage, endurance, dedication, patience, humility – aren’t these the qualities we all want to take with us into our future careers?  Athletics is the outlet through which we develop these characteristics as individuals and as a community.

In our community, sports can build school spirit. Gathering together to cheer on your peers is one of the greatest ways to show support for your community as a whole (and you don't even have to sweat.) We do great things here at TKC. We should take pride in our accomplishments and our school.  We can take pride in getting good grades or jobs but that builds self-pride, not community pride. There is strength in community that individuals simply can’t reach on their own. Our community pride can make an impact, and isn’t the entire point of our school to impact the world around us?

There is a place for everyone in the TKC athletic arena but we can only change the state of King’s athletics by approaching it with the same attitude as we do King’s academics – a desire to go beyond that which is good and reach that which is great.