It’s always exciting going to new places, but even more special to do it with your fellow classmates.
Smith-Cotton sports and activities have taken various out-of-state trips for events and competitions over the years. Among those are JROTC, robotics, show choir, baseball, FBLA, DECA, and band.
JROTC instructor Lt. Col. Harry Cunningham, who recently went with his team to the Drill National Championships in Florida, believes out-of-state trips are special for all students who get the opportunity.
“It is something completely new for the students who have never been out of state before,” Cunningham said. “They get to go and see a different countryside, a beach for the first time, a university they wouldn’t have been able to if not given the chance to get out there.”
JROTC, with the help of fundraising, Sedalia School District 200 and the community, has been able to go to a Raiders competition in Georgia, Army drill competition in Kentucky, and the All Service Championships in Florida.
Many high school students have never been out of the state of Missouri, but because of these sports and activities are given a chance, while doing what they love and representing their school as well. It also helps the activities to see what other competition is like on a national level.
“Now, there are a lot of good baseball teams here in the state of Missouri, but we are trying to prepare our kids for opportunities to play at the next level and they are going to be competing with kids all over the country when they get there,” Head Baseball Coach Kyle Zimmerman said.
The 2015-16 S-C baseball team took a trip to play in the Florida High School Invitational in Sanford, Florida. With the Booster Club and school fundraising to make the trip possible, they played on the Sanford Memorial field, which is where Jackie Robinson, Babe Ruth and many other Major League players once played. Along with seeing competition, and the side benefits of being somewhere new, Zimmerman said he believes going out of state opens many more doors of opportunity for the students.
“It was an opportunity for us to play in warm weather when we are usually stuck in the cold here in Missouri and it was an opportunity for us to get better and prepare our players, not only for high school, but for the next level,” Zimmerman said. “The players had an opportunity to play in front of college scouts that would normally not ever get a chance to see them play if had been in Missouri.”
FBLA Advisor Becky Brownfield emphasized the importance of the students networking with others.
“Students have the opportunity to talk to other students from all over the U.S., along with business and universities that are at conferences and are exposed with more than what’s in Missouri,” Brownfield said.
FBLA’s year-round fundraising with lollipops, pancake breakfasts, El Tapatio work nights, and a Mother’s Day basket raffle makes their events and trips possible as they went to Wisconsin.
“Personally for the many students that haven’t been out of state, they see things through a different lens, whether that be cultural things or business and industry focuses,” Brownfield said.
Grant Maledy, Smith-Cotton’s director of instrumental music, said he believes the value doesn’t come from the trip being out of state but from the event itself.
“In instances where the event is out of state, travel is a byproduct,” Maledy said. “For example, robotics has a world championship … it just happens to be in St. Louis. That being said, I think it is of value for our students to see what different schools from all over the country and world are doing, and reflect on what ways we are similar and different.”
The Tiger Pride Marching Band took a trip to Dayton, Ohio, for the Winter Guard International World Championships.
“Our state has a very developed competition platform for most athletics, and we find many opportunities to compete more locally with marching, concert and jazz band,” Maledy said. “The medium of indoor winds is very new, so to find more completions with better groups, we find value in travel.”
However, Maledy recognizes significant benefits of taking out-of-state trips.
“Students having the opportunity to see more parts of this amazing country and learning how to comport themselves further from home is very good as well,” Maledy said. “We welcome the opportunity to represent Smith-Cotton, the community of Sedalia and the state of Missouri on any and all stages.”
