By Samantha Sanchez
Staff Writer
It is not often that students will find football players cheering on the track team, or the drama kids supporting the basketball team. In order to conquer the disparities between sports teams and extracurricular activities, Vice Principal Jon Shaw has created, “Team Costa,” a Mira Costa initiative that is bringing Costa’s students closer together and creating a more unified school, positively impacting Costa’s student body.
Team Costa was originally comprised of student representatives from each sport team and extracurricular group. These students were nominated by their coaches or teachers, and meet bimonthly with Shaw to discuss issues amongst teams and activities, as well as how to better display leadership within their respective organization. However, any and all students who are interested are welcome to join.
According to Shaw, the goal of Team Costa is to give students a voice and to bring all of Costa’s different athletes and Visual and Performing Arts together to support one another. So far, Shaw has discussed current topics, such as social media, and how to appropriately approach coaches over any issues athletes may have. Sports and activities are receiving a voice that they have not had yet at Costa, which is raising school morale.
Student representatives have also signed up to support one another’s teams and activities. For example, girl’s lacrosse supports girl’s cross country, and girl’s cross country supports wrestling. This is known as the “buddy system.” In order to support the sport or activity they have signed up for, the majority of the team must attend a sports match or activity, or they must give them a supportive gift before an important event. Supporting each other helps not so well-recognized sports and activities receive the recognition they want.
Students have also started to notice a difference in school morale due to Team Costa. According to girls’ cross country representative, Sarah Montgomery, ever since Shaw introduced the “buddy system,” Costa’s sports have been brought closer together. Costa now feels more like a team rather than being centered around a couple core sports. The equal opportunity of support for all sports is slowly creating a more united and spirited student body at Costa.
According to Shaw, he is attempting to relate to students by getting to know them and helping them become leaders. He believes this will help Costa’s teams become more successful, and, so far, has done an excellent job leading this initiative. By making support a requirement for Team Costa, it will eventually become something Costa’s activities naturally do for each other.
According to vocal ensemble representative Sam Sturges, Team Costa is a good concept and it has a lot of potential, but it has not been perfectly executed yet. Since it is a new program, there is still room for improvement, and representatives have to work together with Shaw to work out all the rough spots. However, Team Costa looks like it is on a path to success.
Team Costa is an effective way to bring students together, according to Principal Dr. Ben Dale. There are no exact plans for the direction of Team Costa, but Team Costa members have shown enough enthusiasm to drive Team Costa forward. Costa has never been a school known for its spirit, but with Team Costa’s implementations, it is on its way to becoming one.
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