The 2023-2024 athletic season is upon us at Concordia Lutheran High School. Our fall coaches are already knee-deep in practice sessions and contests, while our athletes are working hard to make themselves and their teams the best they can be as representatives for Concordia. It’s an exciting time!
And while it’s easy to get lost in the activity that surrounds each new season, it’s also important to highlight just what Concordia athletics is about. When a fan, parent or student attend a Concordia athletic event, what should they expect to see?
First, every Concordia team exists as a branch of the total ministry of the school. We want to develop Christian character based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. We want to build citizens who value themselves, their team, their school, and their community. We want to stress the primacy of academics. Each athlete should be presented with the knowledge that Jesus Christ is their Savior, and that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Our athletes and coaches will not be perfect. To be a Christian means that we acknowledge that we are sinful children of sinful parents living in a sinful world, and that we need a Savior. We will work hard to represent Concordia well as chosen and redeemed children of God. These are the most important aspects of any athletic program at Concordia, and we expect our constituents (you, the readers!) to hold us to these standards!
Second, we want to win championships. Varsity sports at Concordia are not intramural programs. We want to build teams that compete for championships based not necessarily on talent, but on a non-negotiable work ethic. Winning championships for some sports might be at the conference level, for others it may be at a sectional, regional or state level. Having said this, we are NOT a win-at-all-costs athletic department. We are an education-based, faith-based program that wants to instill a discipline in our athletes that shows them a mindset for how to win. Even though we will work very hard for victories, the lessons learned through striving for excellence in the athletic field far outweigh wins and losses.
We hope that many of you will find time and take the opportunity to engage with our athletic teams over the course of the school year. The fan and student support Concordia receives is amongst the best in our area and is greatly appreciated. God’s blessings to all of you, and we will see you in the stands!