Air Academy High School (AAHS) has an astonishing athletic program. On October 28, 2023, the girls cross country program won the 5A state championship! This accomplishment should be documented in AAHS sport history with tremendous remarks. On November 3, 2023, AAHS held an assembly celebrating the girls cross country team for winning state. 

While having an assembly to celebrate the girls’ cross country team is a remarkable accomplishment, there are many other sports and clubs with equal amounts of achievement that deserve an assembly to celebrate. 

“Last year when we made it to the state championship we did not get an assembly to celebrate. Even when basketball won league we still didn’t get an assembly,” senior Noah Hellem stated. 

It appears that some of the athletes here at AAHS are upset about not getting an assembly to acknowledge some of the accolades they also achieve throughout the year. One of these many sports being the boys and girls basketball team. 

“When we went to the playoffs, I expected a clap out from the school. Especially considering that cross country gets an assembly after winning state, I expected at least something,” senior Caitlyn Kramer stated. 

Last year, both the girls and boys basketball teams made it all the way to the playoffs. Even though the girls were cut short in the semifinals, the boys team made it all the way to the championship. 

Basketball however, is not the only sport that has not gotten enough recognition from AAHS. Another sport that has not seen the spotlight is the boys lacrosse team. 

“When we made it to the state championship and got half the school’s appearance I definitely thought we would get a recognition from the school at least. It didn’t even have to be that big. An announcement over the speaker would have been cool,” senior Aaron Sheriff said. 

Lacrosse is one of the many sports at AAHS that have not gotten the proper highlights that they deserve. Even though winning state is an immense triumph, many other sports would also like the recognition that cross country has earned. 

“I understand that winning state is huge, but band placed sixth in the state no less than three weeks ago. We are still waiting for our big celebration announcement,” junior, band member, Dominick Goodman stated. 

It is not always the sports that want the spotlight, but also other clubs such as band. Many AAHS students wonder who exactly is behind making these assemblies happen.  

“I know that faculty comes together to make these decisions. I just get told when an assembly will happen and make a script on what I will talk about during it,” senior, speaker of assemblies, Morghan Doughtery stated. 

These assemblies also help serve as a great resource to help the AAHS community be informed on what is going on around the school. 

“I think certain assemblies help benefit the community and others not necessarily as much. For example the past assembly for the girls cross country team got very low attendance,” Doughtery said. 

Despite the low attendance, the girls cross country team did get highlighted about their great accomplishment of winning state. Even though this assembly got a low attendance, perhaps there are other ways for the AAHS staff to help support the sports that do not get highlighted. 

AAHS athletes, students and clubs are essential to the success of the school. Contributions from the AAHS staff will help the morale of the school tremendously for future decades to come!