To what degree should we prioritize sports in an institution that places a heavy emphasis on academics? This is a great question, and one I hope can quickly answer in a way that both gives a vision for our athletics program, and also serves as a reminder of our broader purpose as an institution. Here are three reasons why I believe prioritizing sports as an academic institution is not only important, but necessary:

1. Athletics training has been a part of education for thousands of years. As you may know, Hill Country is a classical school, and as such, holds academic preparation in high regard. But, contrary to what some might think, classical education and athletics (and physical training) are not mutually exclusive. In fact, Plato, who many consider to be the father of classical education, asserted in his work The Republic that physical training ought to precede training of the mind. He also believed that physical training was critical to cultivating courage of the soul which he believed to be a critical component of any person’s education. We are in good company.
   
   
2. Athletics educates the whole person. You are also very aware that we are a Christian school that places utmost importance on spiritual formation in our students. While our academics and school culture play a vital role in this, our students are not brains on a stick. The Apostle Paul cites the trichotomy of man in 1 Thessalonians 5:23; that we have a spirit, soul, and body, and we are to develop and grow in each area. Our students are whole people, with physical bodies, whom God created to move and be active. He also created some of them to be really talented in this regard. And to have a program which only focuses on academics but doesn’t allow for God’s physical gifts to be cultivated and used is shortsighted. Athletics enables us to educate another dimension of our “whole person” students.
   
   
3. Athletics cultivates character in ways unduplicatable in the classroom. Our character is put to the test when pressed and tried. Athletics has a way of speeding this process like no other. It also gives our coaches a window into our students that our teachers would never have. Athletics enables us to cultivate character in our students in ways we would never have the opportunity to if we were only an academic institution.

I realize I’m probably preaching to the choir here, but with all of our fall sports ramping up, I thought it was a good reminder for myself to remember why we give these activities such prominence in our school. All of it (academics, athletics, arts) works towards our end goal of discipling our graduates toward spiritual maturity in Christ. To Him be the glory!

Have a great week,

Eric DeVries, Head of School